At its core, deinstitutionalisation is a temporary state. It is the transition between running a residential childcare institution and running a family-based alternative care system. While the transition can take up several years depending on the circumstances, it will end. The temporary nature of the deinstitutionalisation process can lead to people underestimating how important and how complicated it is. This, in turn, can lead to a reluctance to really invest in it. However, not mobilising the resources needed to make the process go smoothly is a big mistake and one that can come at both a high human and financial cost.
Continue reading “Dedicated Staff for Deinstitutionalisation”Tag: #familybasedcare
Practical Model for Implementing UN Guidelines
In February, I announced that I was developing a Theory of Change model to given an overview of the practical stages involved in implementing the UN Guidelines on Alternative Care for Children. This is applicable both for places wanting to move from institutional to family-based care or for those who are just trying to set up family-based care and family strengthening. Today I would like to present the model I came up with.
Continue reading “Practical Model for Implementing UN Guidelines”Q&A Video on Deinstitutionalisation
During the Immersive Simulation Lab: Family-Based Care Conference in Pune, on 27 February, I was asked to explain some aspects of the process of moving from institutional care to family-based care, and I did a short Q&A session. Today, instead of a blog, I would like to share the video of that part of the conference with you.
Continue reading “Q&A Video on Deinstitutionalisation”Home from India
This weekend I returned home from just over three weeks in India. As I predicted, in the blog on 17 February, it has been an extremely busy time, but very worthwhile. It has been a question of working straight through, long days of providing training, strategy and exploration meetings, preparing for the conference and holding it, and days of observation and on-the-job training.
Continue reading “Home from India”Making the Placement Decision
Three blogs have just been dedicated to understanding the individual assessment process. However, while gathering the data on the child through the assessments is extremely important, in itself the data is worthless if nothing is done with it. Just having notes on a paper or having an overview in a spreadsheet is not going to automatically lead to a good placement for the child. Something needs to be done with the information gathered.
Continue reading “Making the Placement Decision”Individual Assessments: Who?
After looking at why individual assessments are necessary (HERE) and getting a glimpse at how they should be approached (HERE), it is not unimportant to have a look at ‘who’. With ‘who’, I am not talking about who should be conducting the individual assessment, that was addressed in the ‘how’ blog. Rather we need to take a look at whom you need to get information from.
Continue reading “Individual Assessments: Who?”Immersive Simulation Lab for Family-Based Care
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.
Continue reading “Immersive Simulation Lab for Family-Based Care”Individual Assessments: How?
In the previous blog (HERE), we looked at why it is so important to do individual assessments before making decisions about placements for children. In this blog, we will have a look at how individual assessments should be done. The short version: it is NOT a question of sitting across from a child for an hour with a clipboard with questions and rattle your way through them.
Continue reading “Individual Assessments: How?”Individual Assessments: Why?
When it comes to deciding what kind of placement is best for a child – no matter whether it is for a child who is moved out of an institution, or for a child who is no longer able to live with his family – individual assessments are essential. Without very detailed information about many aspects of the child’s life, experiences, development and feelings, there is no hope of determining what is in the child’s best interest.
Continue reading “Individual Assessments: Why?”Heading to India, Again
The day after tomorrow, I will be on my way to India again. A short visit this time, I’m only able to be there for just over three weeks. And in that time I am going to try to cram a busy schedule of trainings, meetings and presentations for two projects in different parts of the country. I am looking forward to it.
Continue reading “Heading to India, Again”