VOL. 13, NO. 3, May - June 2019

Presentations:

• As a follow up to the multi-state study on Aftercare Dr. Kiran Modi and Aneesha Wadhwa made presentations on our Aftercare model as well as the research findings at State Level Consultations on Alternative Care, organized by UNICEF for functionaries of Bihar, Telengana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

• Dr. Kiran Modi made a presentation on “Social Integration for children living in Childrens’ Homes” at a conference organised by TISS Mumbai.

Publication:

• An article was published by the advocacy team at Udayan Care titled “Understanding Deinstitutionalisation in India” on Counter Currents, a social development website. The article talks about the global call for care reformation towards family strengthening, deinstitutionalisation and finding alternative family and community-based care systems, with a focus on the Indian context. The article can be accessed at https://countercurrents.org/2019/06/understanding-deinstitutionalisation-in-india.https://countercurrents.org/2019/06/understanding-deinstitutionalisation-in-india.

• The 6th phase of a longitudinal study on ‘Assessment of Mental and Physical Health of OVC in Udayan Care’ with children across 17 Udayan Ghars, young adults in the Aftercare programme and alumni has been initiated. The research project is being carried out by Udayan Care in collaboration with Duke University. Thanks to our children, Care Leavers and volunteer Riti Chandrashekhar, a constant lead for Duke interns for the last four years, as well as Duke University students Jessica, Arthi and Sona for helping us to create a better tomorrow for the children in our care

• James Plunkett, a graduate student affiliated with the Duke University Global Health Institute has been conducting a study on child protection policies in collaboration with Udayan Care since the middle of May. James' background is in social work and advocacy and he specializes in global health policy and issues of human rights.  He and his research team have been conducting in-depth interviews and group discussions with policy experts, NGO leaders and government officials as well as Udayan Care mentors, caregivers, and social workers to understand the child protection environment of India and Udayan Care’s model of care. Spending time with the children and the care staff at the ghars has cemented his understanding of just how important the homes, and the care and protection provided within them, are to the children of Udayan. He is very grateful for Dr. Modi's openness to having him here and looks forward to sharing his team's findings soon.