PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT FORUM Presented by Annet Namunane Uganda Management Institute 3 rd September 2015

. Using the approach of integration of Child protection and psychosocial support into other services to respond to the plight of vulnerable children in Eastern Uganda.

Background:  child poverty in Uganda is at 55% for under five years and 38% for children that are 6-17 years old. These are experiencing 2 or more deprivation in form of food, shelter, education, protection among others. (UNICEF Child Poverty and Deprivation Report 2015)  Sadly, also the service points where these children receive services make these children prone to all forms of abuse by some of the service point attendants.

Continue  This showed that despite the efforts by development partners to provide services to the children, they are still exposed to poverty, conflict, HIV/ AIDS and exclusion  The Eastern region registered the early marriages at 52% (African human social development report 2012).  Many OVC have lost parents and family, experience deprivation, abuse, stigmatization and some are heading households because of loss of a caregiver.  This raises the problem of trauma and some of these children end up in conflict with the law because of their past.

State of the children  In real life, issues of child protection and psychosocial support are cross- cutting. At any one time, a child, particularly an OVC, requires protection in the course of realizing the right to access services.  For some, the IGAs at household have turned out as a form of child labour which is exploitative and illegal according to the national and International standards.  Similarly, if a child is defiled at home or at school or on the way to school, such an act raises protection and psychosocial issues which if not addressed are bound to negatively impact on the life of such a child.

Methodology  A study was conducted on six Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for a period of two years (2012 and 2013).  Extensive review of government policy and legal documents on child protection and PSS  Extensive review of program reports  6 district of Eastern Uganda and these included, Manafwa, Bukwo, Butaleja, Kapchorwa, Kaliro and Busia  The service points included;  Uganda Reproductive Health Bureau Kaliro  Sebei Diocese Bukwo  Friends of Christ Revival Ministries (FOCREV) Busia  MUCOBADI Butalega  And Church of Uganda Manafwa

Methodology continued…..  These CSOs provided services to children through the integration of child protection and psychosocial support. This involved CSOs creatively integrating child protection activities and psychosocial support into other services like Health, education, legal support and food and nutritional security.  In this methodology, every child at home, school, health center, community games, water well, garden etc received psychosocial support and child protection services.

Activities of integration as per the NSPPI-2 PSS Counselling services for OVC, caregivers and communities, create and provide age appropriate recreational programs, facilities, equipment and therapeutic activities for children with disabilities, formerly abducted children and those chronically ill, Provide opportunities for peer to peer support, life skills training to children and caregivers in succession planning (will making, and writing memory books), promote child participation. Child protection Child right clubs, IEC materials, sensitization about child rights, advocacy, with draw of children from child labour

Results:  In the period of January 2012 to December 2013, 12,000 OVC (5,987 male and 6,013 female) received comprehensive services inclusive of the mandatory psychosocial services and child protection.  CSOs creatively reduced child abuse, economically empowered households and improved the health of the OVC with less funds as most of the activities were done with already budgeted interventions in each service.

Results

Lessons learnt:  The approach has proved to be more effective in promoting efficiency because service providers implement a wholesome package that promotes optimal utilisation of resources.  Integration has minimised vertical programming and in effect the OVC are receiving a more meaningful package of services much more economically.  Integration also led to value addition and sustainability of services. From the synergy that comes with implementation of each service, PSS and CP will remain part of the services provided to the OVC even way after the project has phased out.

Conclusion  Integration of Child protection and psychosocial support into other services is key and effective in the provision of care, love and protection to the OVC  However, this necessitates the participation of the households, community and local structures for sustainability and ownership for the long term wellbeing of the OVC.