The General Directorate for Social Assistance and Child Protection Timi? (DGASPC Timi?) operates under the auspices of the Timi? County Council. It was established in 2005, after the merging of the Timi?oara Department for the Protection of the Rights of the Child and the Timi?oara Social Assistance Department. The role of the General Directorate for Social Assistance and Child Protection Timi? is to ensure the implementation of government social assistance policies and strategies in order to prevent social exclusion and combat poverty.