Child Rights, Personal Finance, Lifestyle, Development Programming

An integrated safeguarding policy in child care entails a comprehensive and coordinated approach to ensuring the safety and well-being of children within a child care setting.  This policy consists of a set of guidelines and procedures designed to prevent harm to children and respond effectively if any harm occurs.  Its coverage spans all aspects of child care, including staff recruitment and training, supervision, risk assessment, reporting procedures, and communication with parents and other stakeholders. While child protection is widely known, practiced, and well-integrated, safeguarding remains a gray area often overlooked or taken interchangeably with child protection.  In this article, I would like to illicit a discussion on whether the Care Reform implemented in Kenya for almost five years has intentionally integrated a safeguarding policy for children leaving care either back to their families or to other alternative family care option.  Is there an availab...

 Introduction Children without parental care find solace in family-based alternative care, including adoption, foster care, kinship care, or Kafalah.  Unfortunately, the availability of these options is not always available and often hindered by limited resources or an inadequate care system.  As a result, many children end up in institutional care, raising countless safeguarding concerns.  Similarly, family-based alternatives like kinship care demand equal attention to protection and safeguarding. In this article, we delve into the critical aspects of assessing, implementing, and enhancing safeguarding measures for children placed in alternative care settings. Assessing Protection and Safeguarding Issues: Before, During, and After Placement   Before Placement Before a child is placed in alternative care, a comprehensive assessment is crucial.  This involves conducting thorough background checks on prospective caregivers, visiting their homes to e...

According to the National Care Reform Strategy for Children in Kenya 2022 - 2032 , the strategy will require an estimated KES 6.5 billion over the next 10 years to implement. The strategy aims to prevent unnecessary family separation, promote family and community-based care, and ensure quality standards and monitoring of alternative care services for children. Some of the key components of the strategy include strengthening the child protection system , developing a national case management system , expanding social protection programmes , enhancing family support services , and improving data collection and analysis . The strategy also acknowledges the need to address the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children on the move , such as refugees, migrants, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons. These children face increased risks of abuse, exploitation, violence, and separation from their families. The strategy was developed with the support of UNICEF and a multi-...

 Section 28 (1) of the Children Act 2022: Are Children's Rights to Assemble, Picket, and Air their Views Implementable in Kenya?" Source:Pinterest The recent enactment of the Children Act 2022 in Kenya marked a significant milestone in safeguarding the rights of children. However, as we celebrate this achievement, it is crucial to assess whether the implementation of the Act's provisions aligns with the spirit and intent of empowering children to exercise their rights. In particular, Section 28 (1) of the Children Act 2022 (being one of newest addition into the Act) grants children the right to assemble, picket, and air their views, deserves closer reflection in light of the prevailing circumstances in Kenya. I am compelled to reflect on the challenges children might face in exercising this fundamental right and wonder the impact of restricted civil liberties on their perception of their own rights. Ensuring Consistency with Constitutional Provisions: It is perplexin...

  Source:Pinterest Is Kenya's implementation process of care reform adequately prepared to cater for children with disabilities?  Despite conducting a population census every ten years, Kenya lacks clarity on the categorization and inclusion of children in residential care. The census reports do not provide data on institutionalized children, making it challenging to account for them accurately. Interestingly, the country still remains largely unaware of the actual number of vulnerable children in institutionalized or non-institutionalized settings, despite regular population and household census efforts.  In 2020, the National Crime Research Centre, in collaboration with the State Department of Children Services, made the first-ever attempt to census children in residential care institutions. This study aimed to shed light on the status of child protection in Charitable Children's Institutions (CCIs) across Kenya, which have attracted significant government attention due...

Source:Pinterest This year's theme is: " The Rights of Children in the Digital Environment".   The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the digital transformation of education, opening up a world of possibilities for children. However, with this newfound access comes the responsibility to ensure their safety and well-being in the online space. Are we prepared to guide and protect our children from the potential risks of the digital space? How effective are child protection measures in safeguarding their rights? Empowering Children through Digital Education: The COVID-19 crisis highlighted the importance of leveraging the digital space to ensure uninterrupted access to education. Children now have the opportunity to explore virtual classrooms, access vast knowledge repositories, and engage with interactive learning tools. This digital leap has the potential to empower children with the skills they need to thrive. However, it is crucial that we equip them with the knowledge ...

  Source: Pinterest "Investing in The Future of Our Children Means Investing in The Future of Our Nation". The International Day of Families, established by the United Nations in 1993, is an annual celebration that emphasizes the significance of family networks while shedding light on the various social, economic, and demographic challenges faced by families worldwide. This observance serves as a platform for the UN to recognize the evolving nature of family structures due to factors such as social, economic, and demographic shifts. It is a day dedicated to honoring and embracing all types of families. In 2023, the International Day of Families aims to increase awareness regarding the influence of demographic trends on families. On May 15th, Kenya joined the global commemoration of this year's International Day of Families under the theme of "Demographic Changes and Family Wellbeing." This occasion provides an opportunity to enhance understanding of social, ...

Source: Pinterest Kenya is a developing country with a growing population and a high poverty rate. The government and development partners have been working to implement programs that provide social services to the people of Kenya. However, implementing these programs is not an easy task, and the cost of doing so is very high. In this article, we will explore the reasons why it is expensive to implement development programs in Kenya.  The Kenyan government is responsible for providing social services to its citizens, such as healthcare, education, and housing. However, due to budget constraints, the government is not able to allocate enough funds to these sectors. As a result, development partners have to step in to fill the gap. This puts a strain on their budgets as they have to provide resources and funding that should have been provided by the government.  Governments in countries like Kenya often rely on development partners, such as international organizations and N...

Source: Pinterest_ lovemotherblog.com From Regulation to Resource Allocation Foster care is an essential part of the alternative family-based care system in many countries, including Kenya, where institutionalization has been a common practice for orphaned or vulnerable children. It is currently the most prevalent family-based alternative option following the global shift from institutional care to family-based care. This is because, foster care is one of the options that can be readily available and easy to place a child in emergency situations such as abandonment, family crisis, lost child, and natural and man-made disasters among others. Although foster care has been flaunted as a panacea to institutionalization for children who are unable to live with their families for various reasons, its effectiveness as an alternative to institutionalization heavily depends on several factors, including effective oversight and resource allocation. In this article, we explore the importance of...

  Source: Pinterest Surrogacy has become an increasingly popular option for couples who are unable to conceive naturally. However, with the rising demand for surrogacy, there has also been an increase in the exploitation of surrogates from poor countries. These surrogates are often lured by the promise of a better life and a significant amount of money. Unfortunately, the reality is quite different. Many of these women are left at risk of exploitation, abuse, and even death.  Surrogacy in poor countries is often unregulated, and surrogates are not provided with adequate legal protection. It is not even clear what happens if the commissioning client changes their mind in the course of the pregnancy. The surrogate may have to abort, or else have to bear the burden of bringing up the baby if they opt to carry the pregnancy to the term. This makes it easier for surrogacy agencies to take advantage of these women by offering them lower compensation or by exploiting their lack of ...

Source: Pinterest It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure the best possible outcome for their children, in case anything happens to them. Writing a will is the least you can do to ensure your children’s future.  Making a plan for your children’s future is a critical aspect of parenting and it is important to ensure that the plan is given the importance it deserves. A will can provide the security and protection your children will need in the case of any unfortunate event. Writing a will should not be viewed as an invitation for death, but instead, as a precautionary step to ensure that your children’s needs are met in case of any unforeseen circumstances.  It is up to you to create a plan and to decide who will take care of your children, or else, they will parent themselves, distributed among relatives-sometimes against their will, or the state decides, to the worst, putting them in an orphanage. Guardianship, through a will or deed When it comes to a time when...