“Strong Beginnings A Family for all Children” Alternative Care Initiatives October 2014

Caroline Bankusha – Alternative C are Coordinator Mark Riley – Alternative Care Consultant Solomon Lukenge – Finance and Administration Lillian Hope– Administrative Support / Researcher Dorah Musiimire – MGLSD PSWO allocated to Alternative Care Unit Charles – Assessment Team Driver ACI’s Strong Beginnings Team

Establish an Alternative Care Unit at MGLSD – Now established and operational Assessment and follow-up of Child Care Institutions (CCIs) – 44 assessments undertaken and 17 follow-ups (Total of = 61 against a target of 48) – 1488 children resident in the assessed CCI’s Transition the Alternative Care Panel into MGLSD – One panel undertake at MGLSD, next panel in October – Panel invites now being signed and sent by MGLSD ACI’s role in Strong Beginnings

Challenges Mobilising MGLSD Inspection Team often difficult due to conflicting diaries Political influence of CCI’s / CCI’s lobbying officials Internal MGLSD processes limited in certain areas Over reliance on key MGLSD Personnel Obtaining Assessment Results from Assessment team ACIU being nationally recognised and receives referrals and requests from a multitude of sources but has limited capacity within the Unit Discovering ‘suspected‘ child trafficking connected to CCI’s

Improve Assessment Processes – Permanent Secretary to sign off results before feedback to CCI’s – CCI’s to sign a off at the end of an assessment – ACI to temporarily compile full reports of assessments & update database – Improve referral mechanisms – Anti-Trafficking Expand Assessment Results Database and publish assessment Results Advocate MGLSD and donors for funds for a CCI closure team and Closure Programme Transition the Alternative Care Panel to MGLSD ongoing Plans

Contacts Mark Riley, Caroline Bankusha, Dorah Musiimire, MGLSD PSWO,