Care reform aims to transition from institutional care to family-centered models, offering better support.
In Kenya, 92% of children in family and community-based care are able to maintain strong cultural and ethnic connections. This approach helps preserve their identity and fosters a deep sense of belonging. By staying connected to their roots, these children experience a stronger foundation for personal growth and development, ensuring they can thrive in an environment that respects and celebrates their cultural heritage.
Over the recent years, there have been talks and proactive steps in how to better care for vulnerable children. Further, recent studies continue to indicate the positive impact on a child’s overall development there is if they grow up within a family set-up. A safe, loving and sustainable one for that matter.
According to the Kenya National Care System Assessment, at least eight out of ten children living in orphanages or other residential care institutions, are not orphans, and with the appropriate support, their families could look after them.
So, what is care reform? ”Care reform is a process aimed at transforming child protection and the care system from one model to another.” It is a rally to take the next step in transitioning from residential care to family and community-based care, to meet the needs of a child better.
While residential care does provide support to vulnerable children truth is, they still cannot replace the place of family and what it represents - an identity and a sense of belonging, to mention but a few. The benefits of growing up within a family for a child, even if they are poor, outweigh those of being within residential care. Research shows that children in family-based care experience 25% lower levels of depression, anxiety, and behavioural problems than those in residential care. (Source: Journal of Child and Family Studies) The family and community-based model of care champions the spirit of collaboration for the child, upholding their best interest first. It also affirms that families are more resilient than we believe them to be, not forgetting that the solutions to these challenges faced are within and among us.
Listening to care-experienced individual stories further highlights the impact of not growing up within a family and community on a child.
Still, there is a lot of positive that has come through Charitable Children's Institutions (CCIs). They have stood in the gap for years to help support vulnerable children and families the best way they knew how. This is why having them on board in this process is crucial to its success. Children are our future, and having their best interest is imperative as we continue in this transition journey in adopting family and community-based models of care. If we know better, we do better.
But that can only happen if we open ourselves up to the greater benefits of having a child grow up in a safe and loving environment.
The solutions are among us if only we are open to shifting our mindsets and embracing the positive impact we would have in society if every child had the opportunity of growing up in a safe, loving and sustainable family.
Care reform is doable, and transition to family and community-based care is possible if we, as stakeholders, collaborate for the child's sake.
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#ChildrenBelonginFamily #FamilyFirst #KinshipCare #FamilyBasedCare #PamojaTunaWeza
Working with Charitable Children’s Institutions (CCIs) keen on restoring the family unit, to tackle the Child Separation crisis through innovative solutions to care for and protect vulnerable children and families
