Following on from the success of our regional forum in Nashik last December, our Family-Based Care once again teamed up with Prerana, Miracle Foundation and Catalysts for Social Action to engage with childcare stakeholders in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
The Dvisional-level one-day workshop aims to help understand family-based alternative care and protection systems for children at risk and in need of care and protection. A total of 8 districts of the division participated for this workshop bringing together members of District Women and Child Development Department (DWCD), Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and District Child Protection Cell of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Division, Child Care Institutions (CCI) and NGOs working on child protection.
Through this collaborative effort, the workshop discussed alternative care, family empowerment, institutionalization and prevention/gatekeeping by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). District Women and Child Development Officer Mrs Reshma Chimindre emphasized the importance of family as the primary right of a child. She stressed the collective commitment to strengthening the family, institutions as an alternative, not an optimal solution. Also, for the effective implementation of this, it is necessary to make a district plan and take the participation of the Collector by giving ideas. Mrs Asha Sherkhane, Bal Kalyan Samiti Chairperson focused on family based alternative care, institutionalization, coordination tools with other departments, child welfare and follow up.
Discussions and presentations were held by the participants working at community level, covering family strengthening, deinstitutionalisation and emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to ensure child welfare.
Satyajit Mazumdar, Advocacy Director, Catalyst for Social Action ran through the new guidelines for Foster care. This led to a discussion on the difference between adoption legislation and guardianship.
Kashina Karim from Prerana shared insights from conversations with youth care leavers, highlighting challenges and experiences in child care institutions. Participating youth emphasised on children's participation and felt that if families are empowered, children would not need to enter institutions.
Sagar Shitole, Miracle Foundation India, gave an experience presentation about the innovative activities being done on prevention, family empowerment, family based upbringing in the districts of the division through a discussion session.
The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to collaborative efforts, increased sensitivity and capacity building to strengthen families and reduce dependency on institutional care.
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