United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have increased their support to the tune of USD$5,281,736. The main objective of the project is to support the creation of safe neighbourhood spaces and services for protecting and addressing the social needs and concerns of marginalized populations. The goals of the project are to (1) improve the transition to independent living outcomes of children leaving residential care at 18 years, and, (2) reduce the effects of risk factors associated with low skill development, inadequate life skills and poor self-image.
The project will develop an exit readiness programme that addresses employability, lifestyle choices/health, family and the environment, and will secure public-private partnerships for employment opportunities. It will also create a safe and appropriate transitional living facility for the children who have nowhere to go on leaving State care.
The specific objectives of the project are:
- To assess the level of preparedness of the children aged 14 to 16 years who reside in residential care facilities to exit the facility.
- To develop an independent living protocol to prepare children to exit State care.
- To develop a standard operating procedure guide for preparing children aged 14 to 18 years for independent living.
- To equip through training, 900 children in State and private residential care facilities with the necessary life skills and 700 with vocational skills to reduce the effects of risk factors that affect safety and human rights.
- To build the capacity of 40 Trainers and 500 care staff with content and techniques in life skills development training.
- To establish a safe place for at least 92 female and male wards of the State, ages 18-21 years for a maximum of two years after leaving State care.
- To increase the opportunity for job/self-employment for 92 housed youth.
- To determine through a structured evaluation, the outcomes of 92 young adults exposed to independent living facilities compared with matched controls.
- To strengthen the leadership and management capability of the CDA to successfully implement and sustain project activities through the provision of an improved Child Case Management System and three vehicles to assist with the transportation needs of children in State care.
