STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT ON CARE REFORM ROADMAP
September 18, 2024 3:30 pm
In May 2024, the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP) , in collaboration with UNICEF Ghana, officially launched Ghana’s ‘National Care Reform Roadmap’ aimed at addressing child protection challenges within the nation.
The detailed Care Reform Roadmap (2024-2028) outlines strategic initiatives for the Care Reform Programme (CRP) in Ghana, which include legislative reforms, advocacy for children’s welfare while promoting family-based care alternatives, and strengthening the social welfare workforce by enhancing the skills of Social Welfare and Community Development Officers across all levels.
In alignment with the strategic initiatives outlined in the Roadmap, the Department of Social Welfare of MoGCSP conducted a two-day engagement and capacity-building workshop with relevant stakeholders.
The roadmap adopts a holistic approach to reforming child protection; therefore, the workshop’s objective is to educate and train officers on the Standard Operating Procedures associated with the Care Reform Roadmap.
Additionally, the workshop seeks to:
– Enable officers to develop a costed work plan for the implementation of the Care Reform.
– Facilitate the execution of the Deinstitutionalization Guidelines through effective inspections, awareness campaigns, and training for Residential Homes for Children (RHCs) and District Social Welfare Officers (DSWOs) at all levels.
In her address to the participants, the National Director of the Department of Social Welfare – Dr. Comfort Asare, emphasized the significance of the workshop, highlighting its potential to significantly influence the future of the Care Reform Programme in Ghana.
The National Director articulated that the Care Reform Roadmap serves as a strategic framework aimed at overhauling the social welfare system over the forthcoming four years (2024-2028).
Furthermore, the initiative seeks to establish a system that not only addresses the immediate needs of the population but also promotes long-term resilience and sustainability.
“We are committed to ensuring that every individual, irrespective of their socio-economic background or personal situation, has access to the care and support they rightfully deserve. This is a substantial challenge, yet one that we are well-equipped to tackle through our collaborative efforts,” she asserted.
Dr. Comfort Asare called upon implementing stakeholders to collaborate closely and utilize their collective strengths to formulate strategies that will facilitate meaningful and positive transformations to meet the intricate needs of our society.
She also expressed her appreciation to UNICEF for their continued financial and technical assistance, which has significantly improved the quality of service delivery.
The two-day workshop took place in Cape Coast on Monday September 9th, and concluded on Tuesday 10th September, 2024.
Source: MoGCSP