A Roadmap for Child Protection and Care System Reform for Governments in Latin America and the Caribbean
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Beyond institutional care A roadmap for child protection and care system reform for governments in Latin America and the Caribbean Supported by © UNICEF/UNI134957/Dormino Welcome Welcome Across Latin America and the Caribbean, countries reforming national systems in order to strengthen have been reforming their child protection and families and ensure that children who lack Welcome care systems in line with the United Nations parental care receive the alternative care that best Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) suits their best interest. and the 2009 UN Guidelines for the Alternative to Beyond Institutional Care Aligned with the principles of the UNCRC and Care of Children (hereafter, the UN Guidelines). the recommendations of the UN Guidelines, this Progress is being made: most states have reformed Roadmap puts a framework for action, real-world their legislation in line with the UNCRC, many examples, tools, resources, and technical advice have created new and stronger child protection directly into the hands of government decision- architectures and some have diversified their offer makers and policy-makers, giving them the by promoting family strengthening and family know-how to plan and bring about real change based care programmes in their own countries. Beyond Institutional Care However, there is still progress to be made in was developed to distil practical advice from ensuring the rights of children without parental specialists in the field who have led complex care. This is particularly timely as 2019 marked the deinstitutionalisation programmes on the ground 10th anniversary of the UN Guidelines, the 30th at sub-national, national and regional levels. anniversary of the UNCRC, and the launch of the It explores regionally and globally relevant UN General Assembly Resolution on the Promotion experiences and brings learnings from both and Protection of the Rights of Children which successes and failures, providing opportunity for focuses on children with parental care hereafter, government authorities to reflect and contextualise the UN Resolution. the information into the realities of your own national theatre of operation. There are still many challenges ahead. We collectively acknowledge that the reforms Governments across Latin America and the taken are complex and challenging. We need Caribbean are at different stages in the journey to advance further to ensure that family to build strong child protection and care systems. strengthening, prevention and appropriate The Roadmap for Care Reform is not intended alternative care – used only as measure of last as a ‘one-size-fits-all approach’. Child protection resort, temporary and for the shortest duration systems are complex, rooted in local cultures – form the bedrock of child protection and care and norms, and must be designed to respond to systems that fulfil children’s rights. local needs. Reform of child protection and care systems will have a different starting point in each Indeed, the UN Guidelines set out an objective for context and will follow a different path towards the gradual elimination of institutional care for transformation depending on numerous factors children within the wider context of developing including political will, human and financial systems for the protection and care of children, resources available, population demographics, stating that alternative care for children should and service availability, among others. be provided in family-based settings. The UN Guidelines clearly call for the deinstitutionalisation What all reform should have in common is its aim of the provision of alternative care, for a paradigm to achieve a set of standards which have been shift in the way we care for children. designed to support the best interests of the child reunited in the UN Guidelines on Alternative It is estimated that 187,129 children live in Care. Reform should have a clear vision for an residential institutions in Latin America and the end-goal and a timeline for completion; it must Caribbean (Lumos, 2020). This has implications be ambitious in setting the expected outcomes for Government legislation and policy making, for children. We know much more now than we budgeting reorganisation, justice and child care did about protecting our children decades ago operator’s capacity building and more widely and knowledge is constantly evolving. This guide changing social norms. wants to add to the work you do and the needed Beyond Institutional Care has been developed transformations you want to achieve. to support, among other tools, national Beyond Institutional Care provides a framework governments across Latin America and the for governments to develop their own roadmap Caribbean to accelerate child protection and for child protection and care system reform and care system reforms in their countries by putting deinstitutionalisation. We hope that it will inspire deinstitutionalisation at the heart of the process. a conversation, guide inter-ministerial and cross- It intends to help governments to build on the society dialogue, support multidisciplinary groups reforms that they have already begun and bridge at all levels to frame their own assessment, and the gap between the intention and reality of © UNICEF/UNI273917/Berger plan their own roadmap for change. 2 Hope and Homes for Children Beyond Institutional Care: A roadmap 1 Acknowledgements Acknowledgements Acknowledgements The conceptual framework for this guide, the Theory of Change, the Roadmap for Child Care Reform and the 5 Strategies for Deinstitutionalisation are concepts developed by Dr Delia Pop. Delia translated Hope and Homes for Children’s 20 years’ experience in care reform with governments and civil society across the world into this guide. Victoria Olarte developed the regional material for Latin America and the Caribbean. The authors are grateful to all those who brought invaluable contributions to this material; Michela Costa, Head of Global Advocacy; Otto Sestak, Head of Learning and Engagement; and many colleagues at Hope and Homes for Children who expertly assist partner governments in reforming their care and protection systems. We particularly draw on End the Silence: The case for the elimination of institutional care of children. Claire Milligan contributed on foster care and adoption. NGO partners and regional experts reviewed and tested the roadmap and contributed to case studies and reflections. Concept interpretation and copywriting were led by Jenni Bacon. Amelia Costley designed the publication and core infographics, with support from Chrissy Styles. Translation was undertaken by Alejandra Reznik. Laila Skoczylas Fiszer undertook proof-reading and supported translation, design and logistics. UNICEF directly enabled the development of this roadmap by making available their expertise and Beyond Institutional Care was developed resources in Latin America and the Caribbean. by Hope and Homes for Children, with The contributions of José Bergua, Cecilie Modvar, support from UNICEF under a cooperation Esther Ruiz and Alexa Cuello were critical. agreement for Latin America and the Caribbean. We acknowledge government and UNICEF counterparts in Argentina, Chile, Guatemala, The contents of this document are the views Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Uruguay, of Hope and Homes for Children and do not who shared their national experiences to illustrate necessarily reflect the policies or views of the successes and challenges in the region. UNICEF. The concepts in this guide were tested and Full reproduction of the content of this refined through workshops and exchanges with document is permitted for research, government and UNICEF in Chile, Guatemala, advocacy, and education purposes only; Haiti, Honduras and Uruguay. as long as they are not altered and credits Above all, we express our profound appreciation to are allocated. This publication may not be the children, young people, and family members reproduced for other purposes without prior who shared their experiences with us. written permission from Hope and Homes for Children. © UNICEF/UNI74422/Markisz 2 Hope and Homes for Children Beyond Institutional Care: A roadmap 3 Contents Contents © UNICEF/UN058437/Vilca © UNICEF/UNI159372/Pirozzi © UNICEF/UN0148706/Volpe © UNICEF/UNI274175/Bradley © UNICEF/UNI272041/Bradley INTRODUCTION PART 1.0 PART 2.0 CONCLUSIONS RESOURCES 6 Deinstitutionalisation as the 14 Cinthia’s story 38 Roadmap for change in child 74 Implementing change 142 Conclusions 152 Defining and recognising key driver of child protection 16 Spotlight on Latin America protection and care system 76 1. Engagement 146 10 lessons from 20 years institutional care – additional and care system reform reform information and the Caribbean 81 2. Assessment global exerience of child 8 A roadmap for change 40 Theory of change for child protection and care 155 Research evidence against 20 Institutions across 82 3. Service design and protection and care system system reform institutions – in more detail 10 Key tools and resources Latin America and the capacity development Caribbean reform 159 Institutional care and child 84 Gatekeeping: the crucial 42 Creating the conditions rights – in more detail 22 Institutional care: difference in child for change part 1: harmful by definition protection and care 161 Key references and resources Developing readiness 24 Reform is possible and systems 44 1. A common language necessary 98 4. Transition 46 2. Government leadership 26 Investing in prevention 104 5. Support,