India has the largest child population in the world with over 430 million children. Of these, it is estimated that 170 million are in need of care and protection in some way. The concepts of de-institutionalisation and child protection care system reform are something the Indian government and civil society are actively pursuing. Legislation such as the 2016 National Plan of Action for Children, the 2015 Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and new foster care and adoption guidelines notified in 2016 and 2017 respectively create a legislative environment that is poised for care reform. However, the gap between policy and practice is significant and child protection stakeholders are working to: 1. evaluate legislation for adherence to promising practices, 2. create direct practice models, 3. build the capacity of the social work force, 4. advocate for greater investment by the government in care reform and 5. create a robust cannon of evidence in the field.
Helping India’s children find safe and appropriate families is a monumental task; 177 million children do not attend school, 18 million children live on the streets and over 50% of the child population have suffered from verbal, physical or sexual abuse.
This presentation aims to share the DI and care reform work in a way that allows other countries and settings to compare, frame and analyze their work in the same spheres. Attendees will be part of an interactive discussion that includes real on-the-ground examples of both challenges and successes in India's transition from institutions as a first resort to institutions as a last resort.
UNICEF estimates that there will be 24+ million legal orphans in India by 2021. The aim of this presentation is to elevate awareness and discussion surrounding solutions for these precious lives.
