Listen to thisEnsuring high standards of care for children and youth in alternative care settings remains a crucial challenge in India. More complex is managing an evidence-based, collaborative approach for preventing children from separation from the families as well as reintegrating back into families, those who were institutionalized. While most child protection functionaries are trained and equipped to manage care within institutions, there remains a significant gap in their understanding of how to transition children back to their own families or into placing them into alternative family-based care options. In the given context, this often results in prolonged institutionalization despite available mechanisms such as foster care, kinship care, and adoption. The absence of structured training on deinstitutionalization and reintegration leaves the functionaries underprepared for implementing successful reintegration and prevention strategies. The lack of nuanced understanding as well as adequate training on the part of the functionaries leaves many a children and youth confined to life within institutional walls. Bridging this knowledge gap is essential for creating pathways for children and youth to permanence and belonging of family-based care.
Capacity building is at the core of sustainable child protection frameworks; and the professionals working in childcare institutions, juvenile justice systems, and aftercare homes must be well-versed in standards of care, trauma-informed interventions, transition planning and reintegration and prevention mechanisms to adequately support children and youth without parental care. Training plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between policy and practice. Many child protection laws and schemes remain underutilized due to limited awareness among frontline workers. By equipping them with legal knowledge, procedural clarity, and child-sensitive approaches, it is important to ensure that the intent of legislation translates into meaningful action. Moreover, training provides a platform for cross-learning, where functionaries can share challenges, replicate good practices, and build a community of care.
In India, at Udayan Care, our commitment to this cause has been unwavering. Through rigorous training programs, technical partnerships, and policy interventions, we have consistently attempted to strengthen child protection workforce, equip professionals, and empower care leavers with the necessary tools for independent living. Udayan Care has developed structured frameworks designed to enhance the capacities of both governmental and non-governmental functionaries. These training models ensure practitioners are equipped with best practices to create stable, supportive environments for children in care, in families and in alternative care models. Through continuous training and sensitization programs, we have empowered childcare functionaries with the knowledge and skills necessary for impactful interventions.
A crucial yet often overlooked aspect of alternative care is mental health support. Children and youth in institutional settings frequently endure trauma, neglect, and emotional distress. Addressing these challenges requires dedicated interventions. In partnership with the Government, and intervention by the mental health experts, Udayan Care also ensures regular assessments, individual and group therapy sessions, and structured rehabilitation strategies. Our training modules incorporate trauma-informed care, fostering a child-friendly environment in alternative care settings. As a result, youth have demonstrated improved emotional well-being, increased trust in support systems, and a willingness to engage in career and education opportunities.
The road to holistic child protection requires unwavering commitment, innovation, and collective action. As we continue our work with childcare institutions, state governments, and care leavers, our focus remains on expanding capacity-building initiatives, fostering evidence-based policy reform, and ensuring that every child and youth in alternative care receives the support they deserve. At Udayan Care, we believe that effective training, combined with strategic partnerships, creates a foundation for sustainable change. Our goal is not just to address immediate concerns but to build resilient support systems that endure. Only through continued collaboration and knowledge-sharing can we truly create a future where vulnerable children and youth find safety, stability, and success.
