…๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has intensified efforts to remove children from deplorable orphanage homes across Montserrado County, as part of a broader initiative to reunify vulnerable children with their families and communities.
The Ministry, with support from UNICEF under the Liberia Care Support Scheme (LCSS), is implementing a pilot intervention aimed at closing orphanage homes that fail to provide safe and appropriate care for children and ensuring that affected children are reintegrated into family-based care.
As part of the process, the Ministry has begun conducting parental coaching and skills training for parents and caregivers whose children are being removed from the targeted orphanage homes.
The training is designed to prepare parents and caregivers with the necessary knowledge and skills to receive, care for, and support their children following reunification.
The first phase of the training brought together 26 parents, following which 49 children were successfully reunified with their families.
The training continued last weekend with a second batch of 27 parents and caregivers, bringing the total number trained to 53. Following the second phase, another 51 children are expected to be reunified with their families across Montserrado County.
Under the pilot program, at least 100 children from six orphanage homes across Montserrado County are expected to benefit from the intervention, with each child receiving a US$200 support package.
The cash assistance is intended to complement the reunification process by helping vulnerable families meet some of the immediate needs associated with receiving their children back into their homes.
The Liberia Care Support Scheme (LCSS) is a pioneering, one-shot cash transfer program designed to establish a sustainable, government-coordinated care allowance system for vulnerable children transitioning from closed orphanage homes in Montserrado County.
Speaking on the importance of the parental coaching initiative, Director of Social Protection Josiah Domah emphasized that preparing parents and caregivers is an essential component of the reunification process.
Director Domah said the Ministry is concerned that some children remain at risk in deplorable orphanage homes despite having living parents and relatives who can provide family-based care.
He stressed that the Ministry is intentional about shutting down deplorable orphanage facilities and reunifying children with their families in the best interest of the children.
According to him, the intervention forms part of the Ministryโs broader social protection approach to ensure that children residing in orphanage homes across Liberia are safely reunified with their families and that such facilities are permanently closed.
Domah noted that the parents have welcomed the initiative and expressed their willingness to take their children back rather than continue keeping them in orphanage homes.
He warned that failure by the Government to take appropriate action in the best interest of vulnerable children could allow their conditions to deteriorate, eventually creating a greater responsibility for the Government to address.
โWe have to act promptly to restore the dignity of these children before it is too late,โ Director Domah emphasized.
He said the Ministryโs intervention is focused not only on removing children from unsafe environments but also on strengthening families so that they can provide a safe, caring and supportive environment for their children.
Domah also disclosed that following the reunification of the children, the Ministry will assign social workers to monitor the cases in various communities.
The social workers will conduct regular home visits to assess how the children are adjusting to their new environment, determine whether they are receiving adequate care, and identify any additional support required by the families.
The two phases of the parental coaching training were organized under the supervision of the Division of Social Protection in collaboration with the Childrenโs Divisiin.
At the same time, Director Domah, on behalf of the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Gbeme Horace-Kollie, has expressed appreciation to UNICEF for its support to the LCSS pilot project.
He said the partnership demonstrates the importance of coordinated efforts between Government and development partners in strengthening Liberiaโs child protection and social protection systems.
The ongoing intervention represents an important step toward promoting family-based care, protecting children from harmful living conditions, and ensuring that every child grows up in a safe and supportive environment.
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