NASW’s Human Rights & International Affairs Senior Practice Associate Amy Bess participated in the U.S. Government Evidence Summit on Protecting Children Outside of Family Care in December.
The summit offered the opportunity to exchange feedback and consultation among academics, technical experts and U.S. government program managers as it relates to systems and strategies that are most effective in identifying and addressing the needs and long-term care and protection of children outside of family care in lower- and middle-income countries.
According to the summit organizers from the United States Agency for International Development, children outside of family care are thought to be among the most vulnerable of all children. They include children who are trafficked, living on the streets and heading households, as well as those who are unaccompanied after a disaster or conflict.
Based on the expert feedback and consultation at the summit, a final strategy document will be prepared, including evidence-based guiding principles for U.S. government foreign assistance to vulnerable children.
Dr. Rajiv Shah, administrator of USAID, thanked participants for attending the gathering.
“USAID is committed to the long-term development of effective and comprehensive child protection responses and systems and we look forward to continuing to work with you as we develop the guidelines and strategy with our interagency partners in the new year,” Shah said.
