PCC-OVC FOSTER PCC-OVC FOSTER CARE PROGRAMCARE PROGRAM

24th May 201024th May 2010

PCC-OVC in Viet NamPCC-OVC in Viet Nam What is foster care?What is foster care? Why is foster care Why is foster care

important?important? Foster care context in Foster care context in

Viet NamViet Nam PCC-OVC’s foster care PCC-OVC’s foster care

projectproject

This presentation will cover:

PCC-OVC in PCC-OVC in

Viet NamViet 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 Groups47 Home Based Care Workers made up from local Womens’ Unions and Self Help Groups

HealthRight’sCase Management

Team(Nurse, psychologist,

social worker)

HealthRight’sCase Management

Team(Nurse, psychologist,

social worker)

Project Implementation Chart

Smile of the Sun CentresSmile of the Sun Centres

Foster CareFoster Care

Over 450 OVC and their familiesOver 450 OVC and their families

What is foster What is foster care?care?

In every country in the world there are many In every country in the world there are many children who cannot live with their birth family. children who cannot live with their birth family. There are a number of special reasons why HIV There are a number of special reasons why HIV affected children are less likely to be able to live affected children are less likely to be able to live with a family, eg:with a family, eg:

Parents are too sickParents are too sick Parents have died from HIV (HIV is more likely Parents have died from HIV (HIV is more likely

to affect both parents than other diseases)to affect both parents than other diseases) The stigma associated with HIV means The stigma associated with HIV means

parents are less likely to have support from parents are less likely to have support from their family and community when raising the their family and community when raising the child. child.

These children are in need of These children are in need of alternative carealternative care. .

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Foster care is one kind of Foster care is one kind of alternative care- it is a way of alternative care- it is a way of providing providing a family life a family life for children who for children who are unable or cannot live with their are unable or cannot live with their own parents. own parents.

It is often used to provide It is often used to provide temporary care while parents get help temporary care while parents get help sorting out problems, or to help sorting out problems, or to help children or young people through a children or young people through a difficult period in their lives. difficult period in their lives.

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Foster children may be in Foster children may be in ‘kinship ‘kinship care’ care’ – that is, they are related to – that is, they are related to their foster parents. their foster parents.

OROR

In In ‘non-kinship care’, ‘non-kinship care’, children children have no biological relationship to have no biological relationship to their foster parents.their foster parents.

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Often children will Often children will return home return home once the once the problems that caused them to come into foster problems that caused them to come into foster care have been resolved and it is clear that their care have been resolved and it is clear that their parents are able to look after them safely. parents are able to look after them safely.

Others may stay in Others may stay in long-term foster carelong-term foster care, , some may be some may be adoptedadopted, and others will move on , and others will move on to live to live independently.independently.

Reuniting children Reuniting children with their family, if possible with their family, if possible and when safe to do so, is a high priority. 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 Why is foster care important?care important?

Negative Negative effectseffects of of institutionalizationinstitutionalization

Neglects ‘best interests of the child’ Neglects ‘best interests of the child’ and ‘right to grow up in family and ‘right to grow up in family environment’environment’

Greater risk of abuse, neglect & Greater risk of abuse, neglect & exploitation exploitation

Lack of individual care, emotional & Lack of individual care, emotional & mental stimulationmental stimulation

Lack of continuity & stability of Lack of continuity & stability of caregiverscaregivers

Often placed in the system Often placed in the system unnecessarily and for longer periods unnecessarily and for longer periods than neededthan needed

High operational costsHigh operational costs

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Leads to Negative Leads to Negative outcomesoutcomes

Attachment/ bonding difficultiesAttachment/ bonding difficulties Emotional/ behavioral problemsEmotional/ behavioral problems Poor educational achievements Poor educational achievements Difficult transition to independent livingDifficult transition to independent living Substance abuse, homelessness, Substance abuse, homelessness, delinquencydelinquency

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Kinship care

Foster care

Child-headed households

Family-style group homes

Orphanages

In the child’s best interestsIn the child’s best interests

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It is now universally recognized that It is now universally recognized that family- based care is in the best family- based care is in the best interests of the child:interests of the child:

UN Convention on the Rights of the UN Convention on the Rights of the ChildChild UN Guidelines on Alternative CareUN Guidelines on Alternative Care It is a key form of alternative care It is a key form of alternative care used in America, Australia and many used in America, Australia and many other countries.other countries.

Foster Care in Foster Care in Viet NamViet Nam

Informal foster careInformal foster care Decree 38- provides a legal Decree 38- provides a legal

basis and $ grants for foster basis and $ grants for foster families, currently under families, currently under revisionrevision

NPA for Children Affected by NPA for Children Affected by HIV- the need for stronger HIV- the need for stronger alternative care, prioritized by alternative care, prioritized by MoLISA for actionMoLISA for action

PCC-OVC foster PCC-OVC foster care projectcare project

System- four district-level foster care

panels Made up of Peoples’ Committee, Made up of Peoples’ Committee, DoLISA, DoH, Womens’ Union and DoLISA, DoH, Womens’ Union and HealthRightHealthRight

Provide:Provide: Guidance on project shape and growthGuidance on project shape and growth Legality for final placement decisionsLegality for final placement decisions Mobilization of potential parents and Mobilization of potential parents and

childrenchildren Links to services and grantsLinks to services and grants

Advocacy and capacity building

National Symposium in 2009National Symposium in 2009 Working closely with policy Working closely with policy

makers at national and district makers at national and district levellevel

Generating interest at the local Generating interest at the local levellevel

Creating toolsCreating tools

Process chart

QuestionsQuestions

Thank you for your attention!