Krasnodar AI Project to Help Parents of Children With Mental Disabilities
The new digital system analyzes large volumes of data, making it possible to determine more precisely who needs help and what kind of support they need.
A digital system that tracks the well-being of parents of children with mental disabilities has been developed in Russia. The Navigator zaboty: Roditeli (Care Navigator: Parents) project was presented by the Yunanov Family Siyanie (Radiance) Charitable Foundation together with Kuban State University (KubSU).
The system is designed for professionals at social-service and charitable organizations. Using five AI models, it analyzes data from in-depth interviews, psychological assessments and feedback from families to build a “family profile.”
The system was developed using findings from more than 200 interviews with parents in Krasnodar, Sochi and Yaroslavl, conducted as part of a joint research project by the foundation and a university laboratory.
Targeted Support
AI is becoming a valuable tool for social support services and nonprofits because it can analyze large volumes of data. Technologies like these can make assistance more targeted: professionals can take into account parents' emotional state, the resources available to them and their readiness to accept support.
“For us, this is a question of taking responsibility for what we offer: help should come at the right time and in an amount that the family is genuinely ready to accept,” said Anastasia Sizonenko, executive director of the Siyanie Foundation.
In the Kuban region, AI analysis is expected to be used to identify early signs that a family needs additional assistance from psychologists, social workers or charitable organizations. Projects like this are particularly relevant in regions where social services face heavy workloads and could enable more individualized work with each family. For AI to remain a tool that supports people, however, personal data must be protected and relevant professionals must remain involved in decision-making. With those safeguards in place, the technology can be used effectively and safely.
From Online Projects to AI Assistants
In 2021, government systems began using data on major events in people's lives to determine eligibility for support without requiring them to gather documents themselves. This was one of the first steps toward using digital technology to deliver more precise, targeted assistance. At the same time, online projects were being developed to offer comprehensive support to parents of children with developmental disabilities. One example was Semya v fokuse (Family in Focus), a project that won a Presidential Grants Foundation competition and was aimed at providing psychological support to such families. AI tools for these purposes subsequently began to emerge.
In 2024, researchers in Novosibirsk developed a virtual assistant for practicing psychologists. Psychological support itself also began to move online, through digital services, platforms that match people with professionals, and chatbots used for initial interactions. Charitable organizations use these channels as well. Some, including the Russian Red Cross, are developing their own digital tools, such as hotlines and online support services.
Over the past two years, the main trend has been a shift toward AI assistants. AI is now being used not only to interact with people but also to analyze information about them. The technology is already being deployed in a range of projects, including the Chudo-navigator (Miracle Navigator) digital service and, now, Navigator zaboty: Roditeli.
In the future, new regional platforms could emerge that bring together data from social services, health-care organizations, educational institutions and nonprofits. This could make support for families more comprehensive. Systems such as Navigator zaboty: Roditeli could also be deployed across Russia's regions.
