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

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

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

Increased funds will be used to improve the drop-in centers for street children, said Dou Yupei, vice-minister of civil affairs, according to the Legal Daily.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs is raising its standards for the drop-in centers, Dou said. New specifications will be set for equipment, services, management and staff qualifications.

The 130 nationwide drop-in centers will employ full-time personnel, with training in psychology, moral, cultural and legal education and professional skill training, the newspaper reported.

The conference was held Friday in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, and included the ministries of civil affairs, education and public security.

This is China's first comprehensive document dedicated to the protection and management of homeless kids. The document clearly defines the respective duties for each department.

For example, local educational departments are charged with helping homeless kids return home, and will also provide 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 kids 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. Officials proved incompetent will be punished.

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

The figure has remained steady throughout the past few years. Currently, there are 130 drop-in centers and more than 1,000 rescuing and management stations in China.

Among all drop-in centers, about 80 need urgent facility and personnel upgrades.

(China Daily January 24, 2006)