This Life holds joint session with key ministry to discuss residential care

Last week, This Life and the Department of Social Affairs Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation in Banteay Meanchey held a joint training session for local authorities. The topic was the impact of residential care institutions (RCIs) on children’s well-being and mechanisms to prevent their separation from family. Comprehensive research and extensive dialogues with care leavers show that placement in RCIs should always be a last resort.

Alternatives such as familial and community based care should always be prioritised.

Participants included the Women and Children’s Consultative Committees ( WCCC), village chiefs, and Commune Committees for Women and Children (CCWC) from several communes across our impact areas.

The training session was a success. Participants gained a deeper understanding of the impact of (RCIs) on children. They also learned more about existing resources available in the community to support children in need and prevent them from being placed in institutions.

Extensive discussions were also held on family-based care as an effective but underutilized mechanism for preventing child separation. This Life is thankful to have received funding from USAID through Family Care First network. This has enabled us to strengthen the capacity and knowledge of care leavers across Siem Reap, Kampong Thom, and Banteay Meanchey.

We continue to make strides in our mission to prevent family separation, promote family based care, and ensure that care leavers have access to the education,  mentorship, counseling, and support they need to thrive.