History

About the Programme

The proposed project essentially addresses the rights of Children without Parental Care (CWPC), with a strong focus on non-institutional care programming in the continuum of care approach. The overall aim of the project is to work on a narrative that promotes to change the ways we care for CWPC in more non-institutional care settings that lead to their deinstitutionalization, linkages for family strengthening and independent living at the earliest and ultimately becoming contributing citizens of the country.

Thus the project looks to intervene in the care and transition phase of the CPWC life, working on quality care and ensuring standards of care for children living in institutional care by aiming to enhance alternative non-institutional approaches to care, leading to their social and independent living skills for life outside, by working with the system to evolve appropriate mechanisms.

In Madhya Pradesh, about 3000 of them were living in approximately 115 Child Care Institutions (out of which 54 are Children’s Home) in the state. Due to COVID -19 crisis, this number has come down to about 1800 due to the Government initiated drive to restore children in the families during the pandemic time.

Programme Objectives

The initiative proposes to:

- Develop a model for vulnerability mapping of children and families and link them up with alternative and social protection programmes

- Develop a demonstrable model for learning and promoting alternative and after care in the state

- Build capacities of the state machinery (child protection system) in the development and roll out alternative care and after care

- Design, develop and roll out an MIS on after care services for children who exit care and a single window services for them; and

- Develop appropriate guidelines, advocacy briefs and evidence in the area of alternative care and after care for Madhya Pradesh

Programme Outcome

These strategic interventions will become the initial steps for instituting and strengthening alternative care systems for children in Madhya Pradesh. Over a period of engagement the government will be able to sustain the same through its systems for family based care for children.

Partners

The initiative is conceptualised, planned and implemented with UNICEF and the Department of Women and Child Develop (DWCD), GoMP. This will further develop a group of 3-4 CSOs as mentors in the area of alternative and Aftercare. Additionally the project will work closely with local CSOs/ NGOs and practitioners working on the subject, including service providers in the private sector in building synergies throughout the project period.

Other partners will be corporate bodies, mentors and committed individuals, willing to play their role as volunteers.