PCC-OVC FOSTER CARE PROGRAM 24th May 2010

 PCC-OVC in Viet Nam  What is foster care?  Why is foster care important?  Foster care context in Viet Nam  PCC-OVC’s foster care project This presentation will cover:

PCC-OVC in Viet Nam

Began: April 2008 Sites: Currently 4 Ha Noi districts: Gia Lâm, Đông Anh, Long Biên and Soc Son Beneficiaries: OVC Caregivers and family members Health and other service providers Home-based care workers Policymakers in Vietnam Promoting Community-Based Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (PCC-OVC)

Project Management Board (HRI, HNWU, SHGs, DoLISA, PAC) Project Management Board (HRI, HNWU, SHGs, DoLISA, PAC) 47 Home Based Care Workers made up from local Womens’ Unions and Self Help Groups HealthRight’s Case Management Team (Nurse, psychologist, social worker) HealthRight’s Case Management Team (Nurse, psychologist, social worker) Project Implementation Chart Smile of the Sun Centres Foster Care Over 450 OVC and their families

What is foster care?

In every country in the world there are many children who cannot live with their birth family. There are a number of special reasons why HIV affected children are less likely to be able to live with a family, eg:  Parents are too sick  Parents have died from HIV (HIV is more likely to affect both parents than other diseases)  The stigma associated with HIV means parents are less likely to have support from their family and community when raising the child. These children are in need of alternative care.

8 Foster care is one kind of alternative care- it is a way of providing a family life for children who are unable or cannot live with their own parents. It is often used to provide temporary care while parents get help sorting out problems, or to help children or young people through a difficult period in their lives.

9 Foster children may be in ‘kinship care’ – that is, they are related to their foster parents. OR In ‘non-kinship care’, children have no biological relationship to their foster parents.

10 Often children will return home once the problems that caused them to come into foster care have been resolved and it is clear that their parents are able to look after them safely. Often children will return home once the problems that caused them to come into foster care have been resolved and it is clear that their parents are able to look after them safely. Others may stay in long-term foster care, some may be adopted, and others will move on to live independently. Others may stay in long-term foster care, some may be adopted, and others will move on to live independently. Reuniting children with their family, if possible and when safe to do so, is a high priority. Reuniting children with their family, if possible and when safe to do so, is a high priority.

In the industrialized world it is generally used to refer to formal, temporary placements made by the State with families that are trained, monitored and compensated at some level.

Why is foster care important?

Negative effects of institutionalization Neglects ‘best interests of the child’ and ‘right to grow up in family environment’ Neglects ‘best interests of the child’ and ‘right to grow up in family environment’ Greater risk of abuse, neglect & exploitation Greater risk of abuse, neglect & exploitation Lack of individual care, emotional & mental stimulation Lack of individual care, emotional & mental stimulation Lack of continuity & stability of caregivers Lack of continuity & stability of caregivers Often placed in the system unnecessarily and for longer periods than needed Often placed in the system unnecessarily and for longer periods than needed High operational costs High operational costs 13

Leads to Negative outcomes Attachment/ bonding difficulties Attachment/ bonding difficulties Emotional/ behavioral problems Emotional/ behavioral problems Poor educational achievements Poor educational achievements Difficult transition to independent living Difficult transition to independent living Substance abuse, homelessness, delinquency Substance abuse, homelessness, delinquency 14

Kinship care Foster care Child-headed households Family-style group homes Orphanages In the child’s best interests

16 It is now universally recognized that family- based care is in the best interests of the child: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child UN Convention on the Rights of the Child UN Guidelines on Alternative Care UN Guidelines on Alternative Care It is a key form of alternative care used in America, Australia and many other countries. It is a key form of alternative care used in America, Australia and many other countries.

Foster Care in Viet Nam

Informal foster care Informal foster care Decree 38- provides a legal basis and $ grants for foster families, currently under revision Decree 38- provides a legal basis and $ grants for foster families, currently under revision NPA for Children Affected by HIV- the need for stronger alternative care, prioritized by MoLISA for action NPA for Children Affected by HIV- the need for stronger alternative care, prioritized by MoLISA for action

PCC-OVC foster care project

System- four district-level foster care panels Made up of Peoples’ Committee, DoLISA, DoH, Womens’ Union and HealthRight Made up of Peoples’ Committee, DoLISA, DoH, Womens’ Union and HealthRight Provide: Provide:  Guidance on project shape and growth  Legality for final placement decisions  Mobilization of potential parents and children  Links to services and grants

Advocacy and capacity building National Symposium in 2009 National Symposium in 2009 Working closely with policy makers at national and district level Working closely with policy makers at national and district level Generating interest at the local level Generating interest at the local level Creating tools Creating tools

Foster parents mobilized and approved Foster children identified and assessed Placement Monitoring and support provided to placements Permanency plan made for child Process chart

Questions

Thank you for your attention!