2024-25 was marked by significant progress in strengthening family-based care systems across states. As part of these efforts, Miracle Foundation India, in collaboration with State Child Protection Departments, successfully conducted a series of impactful regional trainings on child protection. Two such trainings took place in March 2025, with sessions held in Purnea district of Bihar and the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu.

In Purnea, a divisional residential training, held on March 7-8, gathered 48 stakeholders from four districts of the state, namely Purnea, Katihar, Kishanganj and Saharsa. Officials from District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), Child Welfare Committees, Juvenile Justice Board, Child Care Institutions (CCIs), Childline, and civil society came together for intensive sessions on the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, Mission Vatsalya, family reunification, gatekeeping, and the use of Individual Care Plans and Social Investigation Reports. The sessions were led by experienced Master Trainers and government facilitators using real-life case studies, group exercises, and digital assessments to measure learning outcomes, showing significant knowledge improvement post-training.

In the Nilgiris, the two-day classroom training, held on March 20-21 in Ooty, brought together 19 frontline functionaries from CCIs, Childline, and DCPUs. The sessions focused on foundational aspects of child development, psycho-social support, life skills and communication techniques, and used participatory methodologies such as role-play, case discussions and interactive storytelling. Participants walked away with a deeper understanding of child-centered care and a renewed resolve to applying life skills and psycho-social tools in their daily work.

Participants across both locations expressed appreciation for the practical, hands-on approach, and collectively reiterated their commitment to advancing case management and championing non-institutional care models. As we move into the new financial year, we remain committed to providing continued mentoring and follow-up support to ensure these transformative learnings are put into practice effectively, creating lasting change for children in need of care and protection.