The USAID Rule of Law Program's Rule of Law Hub in Kutaisi provided support for another meeting of the Legal Aid Service (LAS) lawyers from the Kutaisi and Zestafoni Bureau. The meeting was facilitated by American Judge Peggy Walker and Lawyer Kate Conyers, who shared insights from the US experience and court practices regarding the separation of children from their families.

Throughout the meeting, the speakers underscored several key factors related to child-related disputes. These factors included considering the child's age and developmental needs, ensuring their physical safety and welfare (such as access to food, clothing, shelter, love, affection, bonding, and care from each parent or caregiver), recognizing emotional ties to siblings, half-siblings, step-siblings, and other children residing in the household, emphasizing the need for permanence, understanding the child's sense of attachment, and assessing the capacity and disposition of parents or caregivers to provide love, affection, guidance, education, and nurturing.

One significant concern that arose during the presentation was the reunification and transition period when a child is separated from their biological family. The participants discussed the importance of flexibility in expediting or slowing down the transition process to align with the child's adjustment. Judge Walker analyzed the alternative care system and proposed the implementation of judicial oversight mechanisms to create an appropriate environment based on the best interests of the child.

The introduction of the American experience provided Georgian professionals with valuable insights, emphasizing the importance of delivering a well-structured plan for the reunification of biological families as a crucial element in ensuring a child's future quality of life. However, the lawyers expressed the need for further guidelines and joint meetings involving judges and social services to enhance the development of a child-centered environment that prioritizes the best interests of the child.