2. Connecting the dots: A Family Care model that protects children

3. Welcome! My name is Antonio Kasote

4. CRS IMPACT Program

5. 1. The development of a Family Care Volunteer model 2. The innovative use of Child Status Index as an advocacy tool and 3. The development of Case Management teams to deal with Child Protection challenges. IMPACT’s Approach to Child Protection

6. Common violations are prevented and/or resolved locally – child beating; withholding food, shelter, education; property grabbing; early marriage; child labor Serious violations are taken up by the Case Management team – Rape, trafficking, and violations above which cannot be resolved Our Achievement: A system that serves and protects children

7. A systems approach “How can we better utilize those who are already committed to working with children?” “What tools do they need to assess rights violations and make the right intervention?” “What structural support will be needed to sustain them?”

8. Building on existing structures StructureStatus National child protection legislation Passed but not yet rolled out Government child protection staff at district and community levels Capable but under-resourced, uncoordinated A robust network of influential traditional leaders Willing, but not sensitized and under-utilized OVC committees Committed but not mandated or trained in child protection

9. StructureStatus National child protection legislation Passed but not yet rolled out Government child protection staff at district and community levels Capable but under-resourced, uncoordinated A robust network of influential traditional leaders Willing, but not sensitized and under-utilized OVC committees Committed but not mandated or trained in child protection

10. StructureStatus National child protection legislation Passed but not yet rolled out Government child protection staff at district and community levels Capable but under-resourced, uncoordinated A robust network of influential traditional leaders Willing, but not sensitized and under-utilized OVC committees Committed but not mandated or trained in child protection

11. National child protection legislation Passed but not yet rolled out Government child protection staff at district and community levels Capable but under-resourced, uncoordinated A robust network of influential traditional leaders Willing, but not sensitized and under-utilized OVC committees Committed but not mandated or trained in child protection

12. StructureStatus National child protection legislation Passed but not yet rolled out Government child protection staff at district and community levels Capable but under-resourced, uncoordinated A robust network of influential traditional leaders Willing, but not sensitized and under-utilized OVC committees Committed but not mandated or trained in child protection

13. The system lacked coordination, role clarity and common purpose. When we started

14. An organizing structure to bring all service providers together A trained, clearly mandated workforce at all levels and across sectors A tool to identify and quantify rights abuses An accountable, responsive referral and case management mechanism To function, the system needed:

15. IMPACT’s approach Organize workforce Train Family Care Volunteers Introduce CSI Activate OVC Committees Engage traditional leaders Align Gov’t Child Protection staff Six components, tackled concurrently

16. We adapted the Care Group model, a proven health sector approach for integrated health and nutrition (www.caregroupinfo.org)www.caregroupinfo.org The Care Group model uses trusted neighbors provide consistent, relevant family-centered care It’s familiar to Malawians and adopted by government as a national strategy Organize Component 1. Organize the existing workforce

17. How does the Family Care model work? OVC Committee members serve as Family Care volunteers (FCVs) Each FCV serves a specific number of targeted households FCVs make regular home visits to conduct assessments, deliver key messages and make referrals as necessary FCVs form OVC Committees and meet regularly to reinforce messaging and backstop individual efforts

18. The Family Care Model Each targeted household is assigned to a trained Family Care volunteer Household with OVC

19. Each Family Care volunteer is responsible for 15 registered vulnerable households in their village The Family Care Model

20. Family Care volunteers representing villages comprise the OVC Committee at Group Village Head level, and meet monthly The Family Care Model

21. Every vulnerable household becomes part of a larger, supportive system The Family Care Model Household with OVC

22. Component 2. Train Family Care Volunteers Identify and enroll targeted families Sensitize and guide families on child rights and parent/caregiver responsibilities Identify and resolve cases locally where possible Refer intractable violations to OVC committee Administer CSI every six months and develop relevant responses Organize Train FCVs

23. Component 3. Introduce CSI tool to identify and quantify issues CSI assesses six domains of child wellbeing FCVs focus on priority needs at HH level Aggregated, quantified CSI findings inform OVC committees about priority needs across the whole community OVC committees use this evidence to advocate with stakeholders and key influencers for support Organiz e Train FCVs Introduce CSI

24. Component 4. Activate OVC committees Work with the Traditional Leaders Sensitize communities on child rights, child abuse, shared responsibility and reporting mechanisms. Refer child abuse cases to relevant structures Follow up on reported abuse cases Mobilize resources to support OVC Organize Train FCVs CSI Engage OVC Committees

25. OVC Committees meet regularly

26. Component 5. Engage traditional leaders Assist OVC Committees to sensitize communities and mobilize support in response to CSI assessment results Resolve referred child abuse cases Endorse cases that require onward referral Co-lead community reflection meetings to review progress of cases Create and enforce by-laws to support the OVC Committee Organize Train FCVs CSI Activate committees Engage traditional leaders

27. Traditional Leaders adjudicate cases

28. Component 6. Engage Gov’t Child Protection staff Serve as first point of contact for OVC Committees and Traditional Leaders in Case Management Build capacity of stakeholders and partners Coordinate awareness campaigns and advocacy Organize Train FCVs CSI Engage Committees Engage Traditional Leaders Engage Gov’t Child Protection staff

29. System strengthening, completed! Workforce structure established FCVs trained and active CSI in use OVC Committees active Traditional leaders engaged Government staff aligned

30. Where we started… A system that works at community level

31. Where we started… Where we are now! A system that works at community level

32. Where we started… A system that works at district level

33. Where we started… Where we are now! A system that works at district level

34. Challenges Many abuses are entrenched in traditional practices Traditional leaders themselves are in conflict The most serious abuse cases can be mishandled by judiciary, undermining the credibility of the entire intervention