At Miracle Foundation India, as we strive towards enabling children to stay with their families and reach their full potential, we honor the incredible social workforce that makes it all possible. This month, we are pleased to celebrate the commitment and impact of Deepak Kumar, a Social Worker at the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Rohtas (Sasaram), Bihar, who has been a driving force in strengthening child protection systems in his district.
His association with Miracle Foundation India began in 2019 through the Master Trainers’ Programme, where he gained in-depth knowledge of family strengthening, gatekeeping mechanisms, while also deepening his understanding of the effective preparation of Social Investigation Reports (SIRs) (detailed background reports about each child’s situation and family) and Individual Care Plans (ICPs) (personalized care and support plans made for each child). The training, he shares, enhanced his understanding of how systematic documentation and family-based approaches can transform child care practices at the district level.
Building on these learnings, Deepak and his team have been initiating impactful changes in Rohtas. He organises meetings with the Child Care Institution (CCI) staff to ensure standardization of the documentation process and enhance the case management process for children. Under his leadership, the DCPU has successfully prepared around 650 SIRs and 60 ICPs for Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP) , those who are in the CCI or have been identified as being at risk due to reasons such as loss of parents, neglect, abuse, difficult family circumstances or involved in child labour. This effort has helped the team understand each child’s situation better and plan the right steps for their care and reintegration. These initiatives have significantly strengthened the gatekeeping mechanism and improved decision-making for such children in his district.
Among his notable achievements, Deepak has helped in successfully reintegrating around 5 children who had been living in a CCI in his district for several years, reuniting them with their families. Through family counselling, close coordination with local authorities, and continuous follow-up, he ensured that these children could return to a safe and supportive home environment. His proactive efforts in promoting family-based alternative care, linking children with government schemes, and championing community participation have made a lasting impact in Rohtas. Deepak continues to work with unwavering commitment toward ensuring that every child grows up in a loving and secure family.