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-...