The Alternative Care Unit (ACU) was set up in July 2018 and is responsible for the rehabilitation aspect of children placed in Residential Care Institutions (RCIs)/ shelters under court order, Foster Care System and the Child Mentoring Programme.
The Mission Statement and Objectives of the ACU:
To design and implement policies and programmes geared towards protecting the rights of children victims of violence and rehabilitating them with a view to providing continuum of care in Shelters/RCIs, as well as providing substitute family/alternative care, through the Foster Care Programme and assisting those with mild behavioral problems under Child Mentoring Programme.
The following programmes are being implemented at the level of ACU;
Therefore, the following sections fall under the ACU;
· REHABILITATION SECTION (RCIS/SHELTERS)
· FOSTER CARE SECTION
· CHILD MENTORING SECTION
· REPORTING ON HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS SECTION
A Back-to-Home Section has been set up in November 2018 to reintegrate children placed in shelters/Residential Care Institutions (RCIs) into their families/next to kin and foster families.
Contact Details of ACU services:
alternativecareunit@gmail.com
Projects and Programmes implemented by ACU
A. Rehabilitation Programmes catering for (Residential Care Institutions (RCIs)/Shelters)
The Rehabilitation Section caters for the Rehabilitation of Children victims of violence placed in RCIs and their reinsertion into their families/next to kins. These institutions are Charitable Institutions/Non-Governmental Organisations which work in collaboration with the Ministry. The ACU has a mandate to ensure that the institutions are operating within norms and minimum standards for a place of safety and that rehabilitation is undertaken between both the children and their parents with a view to returning them to their family environment. Presently, the Ministry is working with 15 Residential Care Institutions run by NGOs and has 3 Government-owned Centres (Shelters).
The Section comprises of the following:
The Services provided by the Rehabilitation Section comprises of:
1. Service de Proximite' to ensure parental visits
Twelve (12) Community Centres & Social Welfare Centres around the island are being used to conduct parental visits to establish bonding of children placed in RCIs with biological families for reinsertion purpose.
2. Prise en Charge of Children Victims of violence placed in Shelters/RCI's under Court Orders- The Ministry accommodates children's victims of violence in 3 Government-owned shelters and 15 RCI's managed by NGO's. 3. Regulations for RCIs-
In October 2019, the Child Protection Act “Place of Safety for the Welfare and Protection of Children" Regulations 2019 was passed to ensure that the norms and standards of the RCIs are met to provide a better continuum of care. 4. Policy Decision for meeting expenditures of Shelters/RCIs-
As per the Government decision the National Corporate Social Responsibility Foundation (NCSRF) has taken the responsibility to incur payment of Capital Grant for RCIs against cross-certification of the ACU. 5. Capitation Grant-The government offers a Capitation Grant payable to NGOs for the upkeep and educational needs of children in Residential Institutions. 6. Emergency kit-
An emergency kit has been provided at the Rehabilitation Section of ACU since October 2018 to provide basic essentials to children victims of abuse at the level of Institution and are admitted in hospitals for medical screening prior to they being placed in a shelter or RCI. B.Back-to-Home SectionThe Back-to-Home programme work for the re-insertion of Children Victims of Violence, placed in the RCIs, into their own family setting. The programme ensures proper follow-up and provision of psycho-social support, as well as empowers their parents/relatives to better care for them through referral to services offered by key stakeholders. The Process for the Re-Integration of residents of Institutions within a family setting
After the discharge of the Minor, the follow-up with parents through visits/phone calls is ensured by the Back-to-Home Officers and Psychologists. Moreover, appropriate referral to relevant stakeholders, for example referrals to the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity and Reform Institutions, are done for matters of pensions and other financial aid. Other stakeholders are the National Empowerment Foundation, the Ministry of Health and Quality of life, the Ministry of Education, Human Resources and Tertiary Education and Scientific Research, amongst others.
C. Foster Care Programme
The Foster Care System provides an opportunity to children removed under a Court Order to be placed in institutions and to evolve in a substitute family environment on a temporary basis. The role of the foster parents is to give support to the child and help him to grow physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually.
Criteria to register as Foster Family
D. Child Mentoring Programme
The Child Mentoring programme was setup in 2009 for children aged between 10 to 16 years with mild behavioral problems to be appropriately screened and matched with trained adult Mentors for a one- to- one relationship of emotional reconstruction. Meetings and activities are held on a regular basis (once a week for 2 hrs) between the Mentor and the child, to support the latter's need for a caring and supportive adult in his life.
Minors benefiting from the Child Mentoring Programme should be under the care of a responsible party/ legal guardian or legal next-to-kin, as the latter's consent is required.
The mentoring sessions are usually conducted at the place of residence of the Minor. In the event that same is not appropriate, Social Welfare Centers, Community Centers and Women Centers are solicited to conduct the Mentoring session.
Aims and Objectives of the Programme:
DOs AND DON’Ts FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE INSTITUTIONS (RCIs)/PLACES OF SAFETY ACCOMODATING CHILDREN
The Manager RCI shall:
The Manager RCI shall not: