Üsküdar University launched the “Child-Friendly Integrated Health Services Model” project, accepted by the Ministry of Interior and implemented as a "social innovation model" in Türkiye. The project, aiming to enhance the bio-psycho-social well-being of children under protection and with foster families, will offer a wide range of services from dental health to speech and language therapy.
Prof. Tarhan, pointing out that the proportion of disadvantaged individuals in society is higher than thought, said, “Approximately 40-50% of society is disadvantaged. Unless this segment is happy, it is not possible for others to be happy. Therefore, this issue concerns not only those individuals but the entire society.”
Istanbul Deputy Governor Hasan Gözen, noting that the family structure is changing in the process of social transformation, said, “Our country is experiencing a process of rapid industrialization and diversifying social relations.”
The opening meeting of the project, prepared in collaboration with Üsküdar University, Istanbul Governorship, Ümraniye District Governorship, Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services, and Istanbul Foster Family Association (İSTKAD), was held with broad participation in the Üsküdar University Senate Hall. The project aims to make access to health services for disadvantaged children sustainable through a "child-friendly" model with a scientific and multidisciplinary structure.
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “The other half of society cannot be happy if half is disadvantaged”
President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that disadvantaged individuals play a critical role in social peace and security, calling for empathy and social responsibility. Prof. Tarhan stated that the disadvantaged segments, which constitute a significant part of society, should not be ignored.
Prof. Tarhan, pointing out that the proportion of disadvantaged individuals in society is higher than thought, said, “Approximately 40-50% of society is considered disadvantaged, non-producing individuals. Unless this segment is happy, it is not possible for others to be happy. If there is a disadvantaged individual at home, peace cannot be spoken of in that home. Therefore, this issue concerns not only those individuals but the entire society.”
The most important duty of advantaged individuals is to empathize with disadvantaged individuals
Prof. Tarhan, pointing to the responsibility of advantaged individuals, emphasized the importance of empathy, stating, “The most important duty of advantaged individuals is to empathize with disadvantaged individuals. If this can be achieved, social trust and peace will follow.”
Stating that there are threats to the family structure on a global scale, Prof. Tarhan said, “A global cultural imperialism has targeted the family. There are projects trying to spread the understanding of 'why is family needed?'. In a project on addiction I examined in 2017, anti-family elements were noticeable. Looking at the supporting institutions, I saw that the United Nations Population Fund was involved. There is a mentality that aims to reduce the population by weakening the parent-child bond. Awareness of such approaches should be maintained.”
Children are the most vulnerable group today
Prof. Tarhan, noting that children are one of the most vulnerable groups today, addressed the negative effects of comparison in family communication. Prof. Tarhan used the expressions, “When a parent says to their child, 'Your friend is working so well,' the child's response of 'Do I ever compare you to your friend?' reveals that children are now more conscious and sensitive.”
Prof. Tarhan, also evaluating the state's efforts for disadvantaged children, said, “Our state and our Ministry of Interior are carrying out very important projects in this area. As a university, we are also among Türkiye's highest-rated institutions in the field of social contribution.”
Prof. Nazife Güngör: “Transforming knowledge produced on campus into social benefit is our priority”
Rector of Üsküdar University Prof. Nazife Güngör emphasized that universities are not limited to producing academic knowledge, and transforming this knowledge into social benefit is one of their fundamental responsibilities. Prof. Güngör drew attention to the changing role of universities in her assessment of the new project.
Prof. Güngör said, “The understanding of universities being confined to campus no longer exists today. Transforming knowledge produced on campus into social benefit is very important. We have taken steps in this direction. In addition to education, finding solutions to social problems is another responsibility of ours.”
Hasan Gözen: “The foster family model is critically important against the family structure changing with migration”
Istanbul Deputy Governor Hasan Gözen, noting that the family structure is changing in the process of social transformation, emphasized the importance of the foster family model. Gözen stated that the collaboration of universities, public institutions, and civil society plays a decisive role in projects.
Gözen, who started his speech by greeting the participants on behalf of Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, stated that he found the content of the project valuable, saying, “Our country is experiencing a process of rapid industrialization and diversifying social relations. In our traditional family structure, such problems were either not felt or not reflected in statistics. With migration to big cities, the family structure deteriorated. Foster care was important in this sense. In the last 30 years, especially with the establishment of the Ministry of Family and Social Services and collaboration with universities, a good point has been reached. As the Istanbul Governorship, we support projects through our Directorate of Civil Society Relations. The transfer of the university's scientific knowledge to this project, the association's ownership, and our district governorship's adoption are very valuable. I wish it to be auspicious.”
Yüksel Çelik: “The foster family model offers children a warm home”
Ümraniye District Governor Yüksel Çelik stated that the project, an important example of public, university, and civil society collaboration, is a valuable step for the healthy development of children. Çelik drew attention to the importance of preventive social policies.
Providing information about Ümraniye's demographic structure, Çelik said, “Ümraniye is one of Istanbul's most populous districts. We have a population of approximately 730,000. As the district governorship, we visit the families of martyrs, veterans, orphans, and half-orphans every week. When I started my duty, we included foster family visits in this scope.”
Stating that there are approximately 60 foster families in the district, Çelik said, “Thanks to these families, our children find a warm family environment. Expanding this model is of great importance.”
Referring to Üsküdar University's role in the project, Çelik said, “We find our university's work for this sensitive segment extremely valuable. Implementing preventive measures before problems arise is very important.”
Halide İncekara: “If we cannot reach the child, we cannot solve social problems”
Üsküdar University Rector's Advisor, Director of the Application and Research Center for Gifted Children Halide İncekara stated that children are at the center of the social structure and that neglecting work for children leads to serious social problems in the long term. İncekara drew attention to the importance of projects for disadvantaged groups.
İncekara stated, “We are talking about a special being called a child. As long as you cannot reach the child, you cannot reach the street. We talk about diseases and crimes because we didn't talk about the child in time. During my time in Parliament, we worked on children. Bringing the disadvantaged group to conditions where they will at least not fall further behind is very valuable. It doesn't matter if the child's family is rich or poor; a child is always considered a disadvantaged being whose hand should be held. I congratulate this project, good luck.”
Dr. Nebiye Yaşar: “The Ministry of Interior's first health-focused social innovation project”
Social Contribution Coordinator Dr. Nebiye Yaşar, in her opening speech, drew attention to the strategic importance of the project, stating the following:
“Our university provides scientific consultancy for 11 social innovation model projects in the 2025-26 period. But this one is of much more special value to us. We truly created this project with strong collaboration, holding countless meetings together. Today, we gathered here for a social innovation model project in the field of health, accepted by the Ministry of Interior for the first time. Our aim is to create an evidence-based model to improve the bio-psycho-social well-being of disadvantaged children living with foster families. In this project, our children will receive holistic services for the first time in the areas of language and speech skills, dental health, and the psychiatric support they need. We will make these services sustainable with the 'Child-Friendly Integrated Health Services Unit' that we will establish within our university.
Prof. Ergün Yücel: “Dental health problems can turn into peer bullying”
Dean of Üsküdar University Faculty of Dentistry Prof. Ergün Yücel, stating how children's physical rehabilitation is intertwined with psychological processes in the project, continued:
“It is our fundamental responsibility to heal and rehabilitate the lives we touch. As the youngest faculty of this university, we are extremely proud to be part of such a project. The traumas children experience are also reflected in their functions; we encounter many problems, from teeth grinding to speech disorders. If there is no healthy tooth structure, the speech system deteriorates, which brings serious social problems like peer bullying during school age. We will treat these children in friendly and special children's clinics, away from frightening clinical environments. With the tolerant approach of our Pedodontics department, we aim to overcome dental phobia in children and see them as individuals better integrated into society. The part we will carry out with our Speech and Language Therapy department is very important."
Neşe Gökalp: “Taking a child's hand doesn't end the responsibility”
Neşe Gökalp, President of the Istanbul Foster Family Association, stated that the foster care process is not limited to providing a home for a child, emphasizing the importance of long-term support for children. Gökalp stated that with the project, they aim to reach children both in institutional care and with foster families.
Halis Kuralay: “Integrated service projects for foster families are of great importance”
Halis Kuralay, Deputy Provincial Director of Family and Social Services, stated that social services have a broad scope and that they develop service models for different groups.
Referring to the activity area of their institutions in his speech, Kuralay said, “As the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services, we undertake responsibility in a wide range of areas, from disabled individuals to children, from the elderly to foster care services. Through our social service centers, we identify needs and direct individuals to appropriate service models.”
