Family Strengthening Programme

This is programme that supports families to be able to take good care of children from their own biological settings. Family Strengthening programmes aim to prevent children from losing care of their capacity to protect and care for their children and strengthening the safety nets for vulnerable children and their families within the community. The programme was rolled out to Uganda in February 2006 and has spread to all four locations.

CORE PRINCIPLES
The Best place for children to grow is within their biological family. Caregivers are responsible for the development of their children communities are a direct source of support for the children and their families. The goal of development is the realization of human rights.

TARGET GROUP
Children who are risk of losing parental care are the focus of our programmes. Children are viewed as being at risky of losing parental care of their family when basic material, emotional, health and educational needs are being neglected or there are abused because their caregivers lack the capacity or commitment to adequately care for their children.

PACKAGE OF SERVICES
Through the Family Strengthening programmes, we provide a range of services to support the families and communities assume their responsibility to protect and care for their children; as well as to encourage and support the government and other duty bearer to meet their obligations to respect, protect and fulfill the rights of children. At the same time we empower children and their families to claim their rights from the government and other duty bearers.

QUALITY STANDARDS The FS programme is implemented against six quality standards and adherence is ensured:

1. Children most at risk of losing the care of their family are target group.
2. Children have access to essential services for their health development.
3. Families are empowered to build their capacity to protect and care for their children.
4. Communities are empowered to respond effectively to the situation of vulnerable children and their families.
5. Partnerships are built to achieve common goals.
6. Ongoing planning, monitoring and evaluation make the programmes relevant and effective.