Yesterday, a unique event took place in Pune: an immersive simulation lab conference that allowed key decision-makers with regards to alternative care in Maharashtra to gain first-hand, concrete knowledge on what is involved in establishing family-based care and family strengthening services.
Since the 2015 JJ Act came out, the determination and enthusiasm to move from CCIs to family-based care as the mainstay of alternative care in India have been increasing. However, wanting something done and getting it done, are two separate matters. To give people on the front line the opportunity to strengthen the knowledge and skills needed to get this done, Snehalaya, the Maharashtra Commission for the Protection of Child Rights and Children’s Emergency Relief International (CERI) came together to organise this one-day conference.
Snehalaya, an organisation of renown in Maharashtra and beyond, is currently developing a portfolio of family-based care options in the best interests of children’s individual needs, to reduce the number of children living in CCIs. It also aims to provide family-strengthening services, as many children in CCIs would be able to grow up in their own family, if the family received some support. By documenting how they are implementing changes at a district level they are creating a replicable model that will be shared at state and national levels.
CERI’s Global Director of Advocacy, Ian Anand Forber-Pratt, who is one of the people involved in drafting the guidelines for family-based care at the national and state level, facilitated the event. He secured permission to use the Immersive Simulation Lab training model, which is a truly unique and innovative training model that was developed by the CAFO in the USA.
The conference attendees included government representatives involved in child protection, like the DCPU, DCPO, DWCD, and various Child Welfare Committee members. There were also representatives of UNICEF, SOS Children’s Villages, Miracle Foundation, CSA and Swanath Foundation. A wonderful mix of government and NGO people who exchanged ideas and experiences.
After an introduction to family-based care, and an overview of Snehalaya’s progress, participants worked together to create family-strengthening support solutions through an activity-based programme. The participants were divided up into five groups and each group discussed what needed to be done at a concrete stage of the process for the case study presented, with an expert facilitator joining their table to help if needed. During the second part of the day each group presented the outcomes.
These presentations showed that there is really a range of options when it comes to every step of the process. And the responses indicated a clear awareness of some of the risks or pitfalls that could end up being of harm to the children. There was a clear consensus that moving towards family-based care is the way forward, and an eagerness to find out how to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles and how make sure the best interest of the children is kept in focus. After the presentations from the work groups, Ian encouraged everyone to think very concretely about the actions that are needed, step by step, once a decision is made to move towards family reintegration, family sponsorship or foster care. As he pointed out, this is where most conferences end, but here, tackling the difficulties was at the centre of the event.
At the end of the day, participants were asked to share their ‘aha’ moments, and there were some very interesting reactions. The UNICEF representative mentioned that he thought it was an eye opener to talk about transitioning childcare institutions into family-based care services, rather than talking about shutting down institutions. And a researcher was struck by the realisation that while in India there is a resistance against foster care as a foreign import product, actually, it is the child care institutions that are the foreign import, while foster care closely resembles the widely used kinship care.
I really enjoyed the discussions that took place at the table I facilitated. And was impressed by the insightful questions that I got in the Q&A following a brief overview of what is involved in a particular section of the process, leading up to moving a child into their placement.
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