Street Mentors Network and partners will bring stakeholders together in Uyo on 26 September to strengthen family-based alternative care and mobilise caregivers for vulnerable children in Akwa Ibom.
Street Mentors Network, a youth-focused nonprofit organisation, in partnership with Theolight Global Foundation and other stakeholders, will convene a conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to promote family-based alternative care for vulnerable children.
The conference is themed, “Mobilising Families for Alternative Care of Vulnerable Children.”
The organisers in a press release made available to PREMIUM TIMES said the gathering would bring together government officials, child-protection actors, civil society organisations, families, prospective caregivers and other stakeholders to examine the implementation of Nigeria’s National Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children.
Alternative care refers to arrangements for children who cannot safely remain in the care of their parents or primary caregivers.
The conference is expected to focus on strengthening family-based options while promoting safeguards that protect children from abuse, neglect and inappropriate placements.
According to the organisers, the event will sensitise the public on the different forms of alternative care and address misconceptions surrounding family-based care.
A key component of the conference will be the mobilisation of prospective caregivers in Akwa Ibom.
Interested individuals and families will be introduced to the processes for becoming caregivers, including orientation, screening, assessment, training and continued monitoring.
Street Mentors Network stressed that expressing interest in caregiving does not automatically qualify an individual or family to receive a child.
It said all alternative care arrangements must comply with appropriate child-protection procedures and be guided by the best interests of the child.
The conference will also examine the role of non-governmental organisations in supporting the implementation of alternative care policies through public education, family strengthening, referrals, safeguarding, caregiver preparation, case management, advocacy and collaboration with government authorities.
The organisers said Street Mentors Network would use the event to present its long-term vision for alternative care and begin developing a network of prospective caregivers and child-protection stakeholders who could receive continued training and support.
They said the programme will feature policy discussions, an interactive session on alternative care, a keynote address and a multi-stakeholder panel.
The panel will examine the responsibilities of government, NGOs, families, communities and other actors in building a safer family-based alternative care system in Akwa Ibom.
The conference will also mark the fifth anniversary of Street Mentors Network and highlight its work with vulnerable and street-connected children.
Street Mentors Network said the conference was designed to shift conversations on alternative care from policy awareness to practical community action.
The organisation, which is inviting development partners, corporate organisations, government institutions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to support and participate in the conference, said stronger partnerships among families, government institutions, civil society organisations and communities were necessary to provide vulnerable children with safe, appropriate and supportive family environments.
It said interested organisations could contact it for partnership.
