Health and Nutrition Programmes

Adequate health and nutrition is essential for the healthy development of children. Families affected by illness may not be able to work or provide proper care. Children in these situations are at risk of dropping out of school in order to care for a sick adult and work in order to replace lost income. If the caretaker dies from the illness, the child risks a number of negative outcomes including living on the street or being placed in institutional care.

The provision of free or affordable health and nutrition services is vital in the protection of children and in reducing separation from their caretakers. This need is extremely prevalent in areas affected by large scale HIV/AIDS infection rates, poverty, and armed conflict.

Children who have been abused or exploited require immediate health screening to identify and treat potential injury and infections. Medical testing and treatment should be delivered in a child sensitive manner, with consent and confidentiality standards strictly adhered to. Significant health interventions should also be accompanied by psychosocial services, education, and family support.

The resources in this section provide guidance and examples of protection projects which include health and nutritional support.

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The Long View: Has Anything Really Improved for Children and Families Involved with Child Welfare over 3 Decades?

Moira Szilagyi - Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk, 2018

This paper reflects on: what’s better or not after 30 years; whether legislation and financing are aligned with child welfare’s goals of safety, permanency and well-being; and what remains to be done to improve the outcomes of children and youth in foster care or otherwise involved with child welfare.

Community Opportunity Map

Casey Family Programs, 2018

The Community Opportunity Map is a tool that allows users to see localized indicators connected to community health and maltreatment prevention.

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Maternal and child protection services at home. Results from a national study

Thomas Saïas, Caroline Clavel, Romain Dugravier, Augusta Bonnard, Julie Bodard - Santé Publique, 2018

This paper presents the results of a national survey describing Maternal and child protection services (“PMI”) home visitation services and their local implantation in France.

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He awa whiria—braided rivers: Understanding the outcomes from Family Start for Māori

Fiona Cram, Min Vette, Moira Wilson, Rhema Vaithianathan, Tim Maloney, and Sarah Baird - New Zealand Council for Educational Research, 2018

This article explores how an approach based on he awa whiria can work in practice in the examination of the efficacy for Māori whānau (families) of the government’s intensive home-visiting programme, Family Start.

Zunde Ramambo as a Traditional Coping Mechanism for the Care of Orphans and Vulnerable Children: Evidence from Gutu District, Zimbabwe

John Ringson - African Journal of Social Work, 28 Dec 2017

This study sought to examine the feasibility of rejuvenating and strategically repositioning the Zunde raMambo (King’s granary) as a traditional orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) coping mechanism in Zimbabwe with a special reference to Gutu District.

Needs and challenges of lay community health workers in a palliative care environment for orphans and vulnerable children

Bonita Bernice Visagie & Jace Pillay - Health SA Gesondheid, 20 Dec 2017

The focus of this study is to explore the role of lay health workers in a community organization providing palliative care to orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS, located in rural Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng Province of South Africa.

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Abandoned Children Admitted to the Nursery of Lome (Togo): Place of HIV/AIDS Infection

Guedehoussou T, Azoumah D, Djadou E, Agbèrè AD, Tatagan Agbi K and Atakouma DY - Pediatric Infectious Disease, 04 Dec 2017

The authors conducted a case-control study of 102 children with positive HIV serology out of 956 received and screened at admission at Sainte Claire Nursery (SCN) in Lomé from 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2014 with the aim of to determine the social profile, the weight evolution and the fate of these children admitted in a difficult situation.

Foster Care: Life Course Experiences, Health, and Health Care

Center for Outcomes Research and Education, Providence Health & Services , 01 Oct 2017

Health Share of Oregon collaborated with the Center for Outcomes Research and Education (CORE) to explore how the foster care experience influences people’s lives and their interactions and attitudes about health and health care.

The State of Play: How have global children and youth issues fared in the U.S. government’s Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations process?

Gillian Huebner Consultant, Elevate Children Funders Group, 29 Sep 2017

This document sheds some light on where funding discussions currently stand with regard to U.S. government programs for global children and youth issues.

Case Study on Improving HIV Testing and Services for Children Orphaned or made Vulnerable by HIV (OVC): Approaches of the Leo Toto and APHIAplus Nuru ya Bonde Programs in Kenya

Francesca Stuer & Kate Greenaway - 4Children/Catholic Relief Services, 25 Aug 2017

In this case study, Coordinating Comprehensive Care of Children (4Children) documents and evaluates the work of COGRI’s Lea Toto program and the FHI360 led APHIAplus program in Kenya.