Jincheng in June is warm and sunny. In the dinosaur fossil exhibition area of the Cognition Hall at Gansu Agricultural University, 10-year-old Xiaoyu (pseudonym) saw for the first time a 1.75-meter-long dinosaur leg bone fossil, his eyes shining. The paired cadre beside him gently patted his shoulder: "Do you like it?" I'll bring you back next time. ”

　　This is a scene from the "Science Popularization One-Day Tour" themed practical activity carried out by the Lanzhou Civil Affairs Bureau, together with the Women's Federation and the Youth League Municipal Committee before this year's Children's Day. In recent days, hundreds of children in difficult circumstances across the city, accompanied by "loving parents" and volunteers, have visited science museums and aquariums to experience science popularization projects, receive holiday gifts, and fulfill their small wishes.

　　The smiles on the children's faces reflect a profound transformation in Lanzhou's care services for children in difficulty: from providing a survival safety net for "basic protection," to fully empowering "promoting development."

　　Proactive discovery: making every child's needs visible

　　The Lanzhou Civil Affairs Bureau uses the city's 110 minor protection workstations in towns (subdistricts) as hubs, and uses children's homes covering both urban and rural areas as bases, establishing a linkage mechanism of "1,086 children's directors + 110 children's supervisors + civil affairs cadres."

　　In an old residential community in Xigu District, children's director Dong Zhiyu once again knocked on the door of Xiaoting, who was actually uncared for. "How have you been at school lately? Is there anything you don't know how to do with your homework? "She asked as she carefully marked the visit record form. Such home visits are regularly conducted every month by children's directors and supervisors across the city. They assess key groups such as orphans, children without actual guardians, and left-behind rural children from four dimensions: physical and mental status, family guardianship, school performance, and community environment, establishing a hierarchical and categorized "one person, one file" dynamic service ledger.

　　"Once the facts are clear and the situation is clear, the assistance can be precise." said a relevant official from the Lanzhou Civil Affairs Bureau.

　　Precise Measures: From Living Guarantees to Emotional Care

　　By the end of May this year, the city had distributed 7.1135 million yuan in basic living expenses to orphans and children without actual guardianship, and the "Orphan Medical Rehabilitation Tomorrow Plan" had provided a total of 270 assistance cases. Eligible children are also promptly included in the scope of "two subsidies for persons with disabilities," minimum living allowances for the extremely poor, and temporary assistance.

　　While ensuring basic living needs, mental health services are being advanced simultaneously. In a "Mind Station" activity room in Chengguan District, social worker Ms. Li is leading several children in playing emotional card games. A boy who got the "angry" emoji quietly said, "Sometimes I get angry because my classmates say my parents don't want me anymore." "Teacher Li didn't interrupt, but instead guided him to express his feelings and then look for ways to relieve it together.

　　This is a microcosm of the Lanzhou Civil Affairs Bureau's joint efforts with the Education, Health, Youth League Committee, Women's Federation, and other departments to deepen the implementation of the "Several Measures in Lanzhou City to Strengthen Mental Health Care Services for Children in Disadvantage." From psychological filing to regular assessments, from graded interventions to referral therapy, a complete closed loop of mental health services is taking shape. The city actively sought 7.36 million yuan in central and provincial funds, introduced professional social work institutions to carry out care service projects for children in difficulty, set up multiple "Spiritual Stations" and "Sunshine Cabins," and served over 4,500 people in psychological counseling, academic tutoring, and emotional support.

　　Opening the Clinic: Resource sharing benefits more children in difficulty

　　In the past, Lanzhou Children's Welfare Institute mainly undertook the care and care of orphaned and disabled children within the institution. Today, the courtyard wall is no longer the boundary. The hospital breaks the closed management model, deepens "quasi-family" care, creates a family-style environment for orphaned and disabled children, and promotes quality services beyond the hospital walls, building an integrated care network of "institution + community + family."

　　"This movement requires strengthening core strength. You can practice with him for 10 minutes every day at home." In the rehabilitation training room of the children's welfare institute, a rehabilitation therapist is giving demonstrative guidance to a parent of a disabled child. Such scenes have now become the norm. Relying on professional talent and venue resources, the hospital provides assessment, rehabilitation guidance, and parent training for children with disabilities and their families who enter the hospital, ensuring that high-quality services benefit more children in difficult circumstances.

　　Paired care: from one-sided assistance to warm companionship

　　In recent years, the Lanzhou Civil Affairs Bureau has made paired care an important means of emotional companionship and social support for children in difficult situations, working with the Municipal Disabled Persons' Federation, Women's Federation, Youth League Committee, and other departments to build a paired assistance network characterized by "cadre leadership, social participation, and professional support." Paired cadres at all levels regularly provide four types of targeted services: study assistance, medical rehabilitation, psychological comfort, and family care for the children they care for. Since the beginning of this year, paired cadres across the city have conducted 25,200 contacts and exchanges, 15,900 visits, implemented 7,326 policies, assisted with 6,102 practical matters, and donated 2.4235 million yuan in funds and goods.

　　Behind these numbers are warmed children and families. As one grassroots civil affairs official said: "Paired assistance is not just for show, but truly becoming a child's 'family.'" ”

　　Educational Support: From worry-free learning to within reach

　　The Lanzhou Civil Affairs Bureau has earnestly implemented various educational aid policies, relying on the "Welfare Lottery Dream Fulfillment · Orphan Education Assistance Project," precisely matching the educational needs of children in difficult circumstances, and has already distributed 4.5675 million yuan in financial aid. At the same time, it actively sought funding for the "Golden Sunflower Project," providing 500 yuan per child to orphans and children in compulsory education citywide, with 441,000 yuan already disbursed this year.

　　From proactive screening steps, to the warmth of psychological services, from sharing through open-door hospitals, to paired care companionship, and then to the support of educational support—Lanzhou's care services for children in difficult circumstances are accelerating the leap from "bottom-line survival" to "empowering growth." Next, the Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau will continue to optimize the care service system, refine service measures, improve service quality and efficiency, and deepen service connotations, so that every child in difficult circumstances can be born under the sunshine and pursue their dreams. (Reporter Chen Mengyuan, text/photos)