Nineteen central government departments are joining forces to help homeless children, the Legal Daily reported yesterday.

The government's focus is to prevent children from living on the streets, and to help those who already are.

Children will be provided with the basic means of living as well as guidance. The departments also plan to crack down on groups of teenage criminals.

Increased funds will be used to improve standards at help centers for street children, Dou Yupei, vice-minister of civil affairs, said. New specifications will be set for equipment, services, management and staff qualifications.

The 130 centers nationwide, many in urgent need of upgrades, will employ full-time personnel, with training in psychology, moral, cultural and legal education and professional skills training.

In addition, local educational departments have been charged with returning homeless children to their homes, at the same time providing financial support and special educational care. The local departments of labor and social security will offer free introduction and training programs of employment to homeless children above the age of 16.

Officials will be evaluated based on their ability to fulfill the new requirements of helping to protect and manage street kids. Incompetent officials will be punished.

In 2005, China had about 150,000 homeless children, according to statistics from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, largely unchanged from previous years.

(China Daily January 24, 2006)