Kenya's Care Reform: Assessing the Integration of Child Safeguarding

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 available policy on Child Safeguarding specific to alternative family-based care in Kenya?

A quick internet search using phrases like 'Safeguarding policy in Care Reform' or 'Child Safeguarding policy during Care Transition' and 'Safeguarding policy in Case Management' yields no results.

Is it that safeguarding is presumed to be child protection? Alternatively, does Case Management represent safeguarding?

Child Protection versus Child Safeguarding

Child Protection and Child Safeguarding are closely related terms that focus on ensuring the safety, well-being, and rights of children. While they share common goals, they emphasize different aspects of child welfare.

Child Protection:

Child Protection refers to the broader concept of preventing and responding to any form of harm, abuse, neglect, or exploitation that children may face. 

It encompasses actions taken to ensure the safety and rights of children in various settings, including families, communities, schools, and institutions. 

Child protection involves both preventive measures and interventions to address any risks or incidents that threaten a child's well-being.

Child Safeguarding:

Child Safeguarding is a proactive approach that involves creating a safe environment for children to grow, develop, and thrive. 

It encompasses a range of policies, procedures, and practices designed to prevent harm to children and promote their overall welfare. 

Child safeguarding emphasizes creating a protective culture where the well-being and safety of children are integral to every aspect of an organization or community.

Differences:

The main differences between Child Protection and Child Safeguarding lie in their scope and focus:

Scope:

Child Protection: Child protection focuses on responding to specific instances of harm, abuse, or neglect that children might experience. 

It includes identifying and addressing risks and providing support to children who are already in vulnerable situations.

Child Safeguarding: Child safeguarding takes a preventive approach, aiming to create an environment that reduces the likelihood of harm occurring in the first place. 

It involves establishing policies and practices to ensure that children are protected from potential risks.

Focus:

Child Protection: The focus of child protection is on addressing the consequences of harm and providing immediate support and intervention to children who have experienced abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

Child Safeguarding: Child safeguarding focuses on minimizing the risks and creating a culture of vigilance and prevention. 

It involves anticipating potential risks and implementing measures to prevent harm from occurring.

Both Child Protection and Child Safeguarding are critical components of child welfare, aiming to ensure that children are protected from harm, abuse, and exploitation while fostering their healthy development. 

Therefore, every child care programming should be intentional in integrating each component independently to help the social workforce be able to address each of the component of child protection and child protection while reintegrating children.