Webinar Report Gatekeeping as a Systematic Process: Preventing Child’s Separation
The Webinar “Gatekeeping as a Systematic Process: Preventing Child’s Separation” was organised by India Alternative Care Network (IACN) in association with Miracle Foundation India, on April 28, 2023 and was attended by participants from across the country. The webinar was organised with the objecti ve to understand gatekeeping with a vision of getting acquainted with the components, tools, mechanisms, stakeholders and their role in gatekeeping and learning some promising practices at the Primary and Secondary levels of gatekeeping. This report presents key learnings from the webinar.
Does de-institutionalization always serve ‘best interest’ of the child – A study of the ground realities of restoration of Children
This paper is the result of a field study conducted by Catalysts for Social Action (CSA) on the outcomes of restoration of 29 ‘Children in Need of Care and Protection’ (CNCP) who were residing in Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in Madhya Pradesh. The study was conducted in the year 2018-19 to analyse the process which was followed, to look into the followup and support provided after the child was restored with the family, to gather information on the situation of the child, and find out the effect of deinstitutionalisation on various growth and development parameters of the children. The core argument of this paper is that while every child has a right to grow up with his / her family and the Government’s efforts towards restoration of institutionalised children with their family is a step in the right direction, undertaking the exercise without diligently following due process, without ascertaining whether the risk due to which the child was institutionalised has been mitigated, without ensuring that the family is supported to care for the child, and without periodic monitoring of the effect of restoration on the child, can lead to adverse outcomes for the child, contrary to the envisaged objective of restoration. This argument is supported by findings of the study, which reveals gaps in the system and indicates a degree of non-compliance with critical steps of the process. As a result, most of the children restored with their family were found to be living in detrimental circumstances. This leads to the question as to whether the deinstitutionalisation or restoration of children with family indeed proved to be in the best interest of the child, as it has been envisaged to be. In its conclusion, the paper recommends actions for policymakers and for the implementers drawing from finding of the study and CSA’s experience of working with stakeholders in the child protection system.
Supporting Youth Leave Care: A Study of Aftercare Practices in Delhi
Current Aftercare Practices (CAP) is a research study conducted in the State of Delhi and is part of a multistate study conducted in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. The CAP study is an Udayan Care initiative, supported and funded by UNICEF, Tata Trusts and other partners; and is base d on the premise that every child who leaves an Alternative Care setting on completing 18 years of age (or becomes a ‘Care Leaver’) needs extended support in the form of Aftercare. The CAP study gathers evidence through a scientific data collection process, consolidates knowledge and promising practices, and discusses gaps and challenges from multi-stakeholders’ perspective. At various stages, the study has employed participatory methods to incorporate the voices of CLs and critical feedback from key stakeholders and experts.
Before, Not After: An Evaluation of CINI’s Preventative Approach to Child Protection in India
This report documents innovative community strategies for preventing serious violations of children’s rights. This report describes CINI’s “systems strengthening” approach to improve holistic overall functioning of child protection systems so that different types of harm and violence against childre n are prevented from occurring.
Alternative Care in India: Issues and Prospects
This paper presents the current vulnerabilities faced by children and the scenario of child protection in India. While discussing the legal provisions prevailing in the country, it sheds light on the socio-cultural barriers that are creating resistance within the society in making the Alternative Ca re model a success.
Tools for Working with Children in Institutional Care
This knowledge resource discusses and provides examples of practice tools, worksheets and calming techniques (in English and Hindi) which counsellors and adults can use while working with children who are in institutional care. These tools are developed and compiled by Counsel to Secure Justice (CSJ ) based on experiences and interventions of working with children in institutions. Along with the tools, the paper reviews evidence on the impact of institutionalisation on children and evidence-based interventions that can help mitigate this impact while interweaving CSJ’s experiences and interventions. The latter part of the paper presents tools and calming techniques in the form of worksheets and pictorial representations. The tools and techniques in this resource are part of CSJ’s interventions with children in CCIsincluding in the form of in-person interactions/counselling, virtual interventions during COVID 19 and the restorative circle processes. The tools are developed and compiled to provide visual aid and illustration during counselling and other interactions with children. The exercises can help in engaging children to think and express. The tools can help build rapport and work with children who find it difficult to express their emotions and experiences verbally. The worksheets and calming techniques around coping can help the children practise the coping techniques and equip them to use it for themselves. CSJ understands these tools have limitations and are examples of practice tools and techniques adapted or modified by the counsellors. These are not a replacement of in-person, telephonic, individual or group counselling, therapy or any psychological/psychiatric intervention for severe mental health conditions and disorders. None of these tools can be used for psychological or psychometric testing or diagnosis.
Beyond 18 : Leaving Child Care Institutions – Supporting Youth Leave Care: A Study of Aftercare Practices
This report on Aftercare is based on research on “Current Aftercare Practices” (CAP), with regard to Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP), under the JJ Act, 2015, conducted in five states of India, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. It is about the status of Aftercare yo uth, or Care Leavers (CLs), who as wards of the state in the child protection system, while they were below the age of eighteen, we are entitled to care, protection, treatment, development, rehabilitation and re-integration by the state – as explicitly stated in the Preamble of the JJ Act, 2015. On attaining the age of majority – i.e. eighteen years, they are now compelled to transition from state care in a Child Care Institution (CCI) to adulthood in the wider community. The study aims to influence the contemporary care leaving policy, law and practice in India.
VULNERABILITIES ASSESSMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
The Government of Madhya Pradesh, committed to child protection in its State Plan of Action on Alternative Care, 2018 where it stated a clear mandate to promote family-based models of alternative care, including family strengthening programs. Keeping this in mind the CPF of Ujjain conducted its firs t pilot Child Vulnerability Mapping (CVM) from December 2020 to February 2021 in three blocks of the district (Ujjain, Badnagar and Nagda) with technical support from Udayan Care. This report is a documentation of the process and highlights the key findings of the CVM along with recommendations for the way forward. The CVM received overall support and guidance from the Department of Women and Child Development, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh and UNICEF MP Field Office.
Kinship Care in India- A Case Study Documentation
This report emerges from the strong conviction of India Alternative Care Network (IACN) that all children deserve to grow up in loving and nurturing family environments. Families are essential for the emotional, physical, and cognitive growth of children. Hence all efforts should be made to provide family-based care to children without parental care, and institutionalisation should be a measure of last resort for the optimum development of children.
Handbook for Facilitation of Restorative Practices in Child Care Institutions
Restorative Circles are part of a wider continuum of practices in Restorative Justice, which include both formal and informal processes. These may include restorative conversations, Family Group Conferences, VictimOffender Dialogues, and Restorative Circles. Restorative Circles can also be of many t ypes. This Handbook focuses on the work undertaken by the Restorative Practices Team at Enfold, with children residing in CCIs. Since 2019, the Restorative Practice team at Enfold Proactive Health Trust has been facilitating Restorative Circles with the staff and children of Observation Homes, Place of Safety, and Children’s Homes under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. This Handbook has been developed to share the insights that have emerged from our experience of facilitating over 250 Circles with children and adults. We believe that Restorative Practice is a way of life, and so our understanding and practice of Restorative Circles will always continue to evolve. Therefore, this Handbook is an initial offering gleaned from our learning so far, learning that has come from engagement with theory and conceptual frameworks and with practice with children and our team through regular Praxis. We hope this will be useful for organisations and individuals who have undergone basic training on Restorative Circles and wish to facilitate Circles with children in CCI or other settings.