DSW HOLDS CONFERENCE ON DEINSTITUTIONALISATION FOR RHCS

On Thursday, 15th December, 2022, the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection with support from the Catholic Relief Servces (CRS) held a conference on Deinstitutionalization (DI) for Residential Homes for Children (RHCs) under the theme: “FAMILIES ARE FOREVER” in Accra.

The DSW organized the conference to engage stakeholders especially, Operators of Residential Homes for Children (RHC) to reorient them on deinstitutionalization and have a dialogue on how children can be reunified with their families or be placed into other alternative care options such as foster care or adoption.

It was also to sensitize the public on the negative effects of permanent institutional care on children and rather support foster care families.

Addressing stakeholders, the Director for the Department of Social Welfare/ Chairperson for the occasion, Rev. Dr. Mrs. Comfort Asare on behalf of the Chief Director, Dr. Afisah Zakariah stated that the family is the pivot of every society where children are supported, loved and nurtured, thus, the need for everyone to work together and seek the best interest of the orphan and the vulnerable children in the country.

Touching on the extended family system in Ghana, Dr. Comfort Asare intimated that it is crucial in the child protection system hence the need to strengthen it.

‘The extended family must actively be involved in the care, protection and socialization of children especially when the biological parents are unable to cater for them,’ she emphasized.

She acknowledged the Residential Homes of Children for their support in complementing the efforts of the Government in order to bring hope and dignity to children who are vulnerable in the society.

A representative from the Catholic Relief Service (CRS) pledged on the CRS’s commitment in supporting the Ministry and the Department of Social Welfare to implement its intervention in strengthening families to ensure that children have a safe and nurturing environment in the country.

SOURCE: MoGCSP