The African Early Childhood Network (AfECN)’s Post

Caring for our most vulnerable children is perhaps the most crucial role of local authorities. Yet, they face a myriad of challenges in children's residential care, including rising demand, lack of supply in the right places, and a market reliant on debt-financed business models driven by scale. These factors are leading to poor outcomes for children. In our latest #PrioritisingPublicServices series blog, Scott Darraugh, Chief Executive of Social adVentures, and Ross Murray argue that provider models rooted in local communities and cooperative solutions, such as the innovative Fair Care Alliance in Greater Manchester, can become the blueprint for tackling the crisis in children's residential care. Scott and Ross tackle the pressing questions: ➡ What are the critical issues facing children's residential care today? ➡ What actionable steps can be taken to address these challenges? ➡Where do we stand in the journey towards transformation in children's residential care? Discover how we can move towards a more sustainable and effective solution for our most vulnerable children in the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eCsaGDMd Interested in learning more about the potential of cooperative principles in reforming children's residential care? Register for free our webinar 'Cooperative principles in public service delivery' on 27th June https://lnkd.in/e73c8-Ew #ChildWelfare #InnovationInCare #ChildrensServices #CooperativePrinciples #PrioritisingPublicServices

Today, on World Children’s Day, we celebrate the boundless potential, dreams, and resilience of children everywhere. This special day serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility to protect their rights, nurture their talents, and create an environment where every child can thrive. Every child deserves love, education, safety, and opportunities to grow into their full potential, regardless of their background or circumstances. Let us honor their innocence and curiosity by advocating for inclusive policies, accessible education, and healthcare systems that ensure no child is left behind. As we mark this day, let’s remember that the welfare of children is a cornerstone for building a brighter, more equitable future. Together, we must champion their voices, listen to their needs, and take actionable steps to end poverty, discrimination, and abuse. Each small act of kindness, mentorship, or support can transform a child's life. On this World Children’s Day, let’s reaffirm our commitment to empowering children, because investing in them today is investing in a better world tomorrow. Loretta Health Initiative (LHI) aims at promoting healthy living. To learn more about us, visit https://lnkd.in/e5y_gRk8. You can also email us lorettahealthmatters@gmail.com. Let's prioritize our health, make informed choices, and embrace the journey towards a healthier and happier life! Don't forget to hit the follow button to receive daily health tips, inspiration, and information on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. #edostatehealthinedostatehands #healthylifestyle #healthiswealth

As we celebrate this year's U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Minority Health Month theme, Be the Source for Better Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities, and Connections, we lift up our partners at Porter-Leath and the Early Success Coalition as they work to reduce health disparities through person- and family-centered approaches that address social drivers of health (SDOH) disproportionately burdening communities of color. Evidence-based early home visitation (EBHV) improves the health and well-being of young children and their families. In particular, culturally congruent EHBV in partnership with responsive community resources can effectively address racial and ethnic health disparities. We celebrate the ESC's Shelby County partners for their ongoing commitment to strengthen local EBHV programs and connections. These resources nurture the physical, mental, and social health of women facing health disparities—a disproportionate share of whom are women of color. 🔗 Learn more about the ESC and explore their library of resources: earlysuccesscoalition.com/ #MinorityHealthEquity #NMHM24 #PersonCenteredCare #EarlySuccessCoalition

Nurturing Young Lives: Every Child Deserves the Best 🌟 At Heart & Home Living, our focus is always on the children we serve. Recent data highlights challenges in children's social care, reminding us why our work is so crucial: Children need stable, supportive environments 🏡 Quality care makes a real difference in young lives 💖 Staff training and retention are key to consistent care 🎓 Our commitment: ✅ Providing nurturing, healing spaces ✅ Investing in our team's skills and well-being ✅ Focusing on each child's individual needs Every child deserves love, care, and opportunities to thrive. We're dedicated to making that a reality. Recent Ofsted data reveals some eye-opening stats in children's social care. Read this blog from Community Care here: https://lnkd.in/emnNZZxC How can we, as a community, better support vulnerable children? Share your thoughts below 👇 📞 0203 519 5284 ✉️ info@hearthomeliving.co.uk 💻 https://lnkd.in/eMjJ6DY3 #ChildrenSocialCare #CareQuality #HeartAndHomeLiving #OfstedData #CareSectorTrends

A study undertaken by Dr Lisa Holmes, Professor of Applied Social Science in the School of Education and Social Work at the University of Sussex, has illustrated the stark contrast in cost to the public purse of supporting children back into their family units (reunification) versus the costs associated with children returning to #care due to failed reunification – and it is over four times less. A substantial amount of money is spent each year as a consequence of failed reunifications, resulting in children re-entering #care. These costs are particularly significant when compared with the lower cost of improving support to meet the needs of children and families when children return home from #care. Ten years after publishing her first report commissioned by the NSPCC, Professor Holmes was commissioned by the NSPCC to update the analysis. Her new report illustrates that the total estimated current cost for all failed reunifications is almost £317k. In contrast, the annual cost of providing support and services to meet the needs of all children and families returning home from care is less than £70k. Full details at https://lnkd.in/etf88Ekc #childrenincare #costofcare #reunification

The Struggle for Children in Care Continues! The recent survey by Action for Children and the NSPCC paints a grim picture - 78% of local authorities in England want to provide more support for families to reunite, but funding constraints and a shortage of social care staff are blocking the path. 😢 An Alarming Reality: 69% cite funding constraints as a barrier to increased family support. 65% face challenges in recruitment and retention of staff. 35% of reunited children return to care within six years. Enough is enough! The future of children in care hinges on better support, but constraints and a lack of training are hindering progress. The time for change is NOW. The Solution? Training and Investment! Invest in staff training for seamless transitions from care homes to family living. Be the Change! It's time to invest in our future, break the cycle, and create thriving family environments. 💙 Explore Think Tank Academy's courses today at www.ThinkTank-Academy.com Every Child Deserves a Chance to Thrive at Home! Let's stand together for a brighter future! #ThinkTankAcademy #ChildrenInCare #InvestInTraining #QualityCare #FamilyReunification #EmpowerProfessionals

Today, The Collaborative released our report summarizing the findings and recommendations from the first year of the Upstream Initiative. This report outlines a transformative approach to supporting Oregon families during their child's critical first 1,000 days of life, from prenatal through age 2. The centerpiece of the report is the Oregon Child Success Blueprint, which calls out key policy strategies in four categories that have the potential to ensure every child in Oregon has a strong start in life, no matter where they live, the color of their skin, or their family's economic situation: 🏠 Housing Stability  🥗 Food Security  👶 Accessible Childcare  💵 Flexible Cash Assistance These recommendations are designed to align with existing state initiatives and metrics, providing a clear path forward for policymakers and community leaders. THANK YOU to all our Design Pilot partners who have poured hundreds of hours into developing a vision for how we can give every child an equitable opportunity to thrive. What's next? In 2025, we will support communities as they operationalize their Child Success Models and advocate for policies that ensure no pregnant person or child age 0-2 is hungry or houseless in Oregon. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/gQTTDAYh

Focusing on 1. Health, 2. Family, 3. Education, and 4. Community! We foster “for” giving hearts and responsible citizenship. #FGH #Fourgivinghearts #childhoodcancerawareness #suicidepreventionawareness #sicklecellawareness

Happy World Children’s Day! 🎈 #WorldChildrensDay #LeaveNoOneBehind Today, we celebrate the rights, dreams, and futures of children everywhere. Children’s rights are #HumanRights, and it’s our collective responsibility to protect and nurture every child. At the European Union, #children and #youth are at the core of our vision for a better tomorrow. Through our strategies in #education, #health, #citizenship and #DevelopmentCooperation, we are committed to: ✅ Ensuring access to inclusive and quality education for all. ✅ Promoting basic healthcare to combat infant mortality. ✅ Reducing vulnerabilities and safeguarding children’s protection. ✅ Building a culture that prioritizes well-being and empowers the next generation. In these challenging times, we must unite to prevent health crises from becoming education crises. Let’s work together to create a sustainable future where children and young people thrive, equipping them to shape the world of tomorrow. The future belongs to them, and it starts with us. Together, we can make a difference! #WorldChildrensDay #YouthEmpowerment #ChildProtection #EducationForAll

Did you know education access quality is a key social determinant of health? According to the CDC, individuals with higher levels of education are more likely to make healthier choices and have better overall health outcomes. Improving education can lead to a healthier community. Want to help improve education access quality? Consider volunteering at local schools, advocating for equal education opportunities, or supporting programs that provide resources to students in need. #EducationAccessQuality #CommunityHealth #NMURuralHealth #UpperPeninsula