In 2023, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) conducted a Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) survey, in partnership with Changing the Way We Care℠ (CTWWC), to assess the readiness of Catholic church leadership and workers in Charitable Children’s Institutions (CCIs) for care reform. The survey revealed strong awareness of the benefits of transitioning from institutional to family-based care, particularly in child development, reintegration, and family strengthening. However, significant gaps were noted in understanding the long-term processes of reintegration and the need for fundamental changes in the way CCIs operate post-transition. Attitudes toward institutional care remained positive among many respondents, especially those working within CCIs, with a considerable proportion still supporting the continued admission of children into residential settings, particularly for children with disabilities.
The findings highlight the need for targeted capacity-building efforts, particularly around early childhood development, care for children with disabilities, and organizational transition. Training programs should focus on shifting attitudes and practices toward family-based care, especially in dioceses with more entrenched pro-institutional views. The survey underscores the importance of ongoing sensitization and training to ensure that both church leaders and CCI workers fully embrace and implement Kenya’s national care reform agenda.
Related:
- Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops Support for Care Reform: Situational Analysis of Catholic Church Children’s Charitable Institutions in the Archdiocese of Kisumu and Mombasa: Summary Report
- The Role of Catholic Church, Diocesan Family Life Departments in Supporting Care Reform: Report of an Assessment of Diocesan Family Life Departments
