Miracle Foundation India, together with Prerana Anti Trafficking, Catalysts for Social Action and Snehalaya, organized a day-long workshop on ‘Transforming Child Care Services: Understanding Alternative Care and Family Strengthening Models’. Held on July 10, 2024, in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra, in collaboration with the Department of Women and Child Development, the workshop focused on promoting family-based care and enhancing protection for children in vulnerable situations.

Relevant stakeholders from eight districts of the state, including members of District Women and Child Development Departments, Child Welfare Committees and Child Care Institutions, discussed the importance of prioritizing family-based care in child protection efforts and making institutional care the last resort. The program witnessed insightful discussions on foster care guidelines and the challenges faced by young caregivers, thereby highlighting the need for community-level work and family empowerment.

Several innovative approaches towards prevention of children’s separation from families and on promoting family-based care were shared. The event concluded with a collective commitment towards enhancing sensitization among communities and stakeholders, building their capacities, and ensuring collaborative efforts to reduce reliance on institutional care.