Three fundamental elements of resilient child protection systems in crises
Crises and emergencies put substantial pressure on child protection systems. Systems are forced to maintain service delivery, often with scarce resources, and to adapt to emerging challenges.
CBSS Children at Risk Expert Group mapped child protection systems in the Baltic Sea region. The overall objective of the mapping was to identify fundamental aspects of inclusive and resilient child protection systems. A key part of the mapping was to understand well-functioning child protection systems that effectively safeguard children in periods of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine.
Three key elements were pinpointed based on this mapping.
1. Regular evaluations and reforms contribute to building trust and innovative practices
Regular evaluations and reforms have contributed to more integrated, inclusive, and resilient approaches and practices. As a result, these evaluations and reforms have had a positive impact on the child protection system’s ability to adapt and respond to emerging challenges and crises. Children’s rights impact assessments of new policies and measures have proven particularly effective.
Involving diverse actors in reviews and reforms contributes to trust and innovation, a key foundation for inclusive and participatory systems. Trust is a necessary condition for effective child protection systems during crises. Trust, in this context, means trust between agencies and professionals and trust between the system and children and their caregivers. Moreover, innovations and new measures have been helpful to support child protection systems in crisis, for example, increased digitalisation, new information channels, and new practices, including emergency schemes.
We have collected a series of resources that focus on evaluations and reforms, trust building, and innovative practices.
- National ombudspersons provide accountability.
Read more… - CBSS member states employ evidence informed strategies, programmes, and practices.
Read more… - Germany engages regional cooperation frameworks and civil society. Read more…
- Norway, Finland, and Iceland build competence and manage workloads for child protection workers.
Read more…
2. Preparedness
Investing in child protection to prepare professionals, children, and their families alongside systems and infrastructure enables the child protection system to react swiftly. This includes, but is not limited to, information campaigns, family support schemes, increased collaboration and multidisciplinary structures, support for foster families, training of staff, recommendations and guidelines for staff and national action plans.
Learning from previous crises, and from other countries in crisis is key. For example, the mapping of child protection systems in the Baltic Sea Region, found that the child protection and immigration systems quickly could apply a response to Ukraine refugee crisis, based on what they had learned from the 2015 migration crisis in Europe. The mapping further showed that when there is considerable political will, child protection systems can react swiftly to put measures in place and allocate financial resources at national and municipal levels.
Preparing children for crises also means involving children; child participation is an important element of preparedness. There is an increasing recognition that children and youth can increasingly bring real and necessary contributions, including to building inclusive and resilient societies.
We have collected noteworthy practices and resources that demonstrate how countries in the Baltic Sea region work to ensure they are prepared for crises and emergencies, including through child participation practices.
- Teaching children crisis preparedness through play in Estonia.
Read more… - Participatory budgeting in Lithuanian schools increases the civic engagement and financial literacy of schoolchildren.
Read more… - Inclusive crisis communication with children: a guide.
Read more… - A series of interesting practices in relation to child participation in DRR
Read more… - CBSS member states provide children with space, voice, audience, and influence in policy making.
Read more…
3. Ensuring a continuum of care
One of the challenges during a crisis is to maintain, and at times, increase emphasis and resources to key elements to ensure that infrastructure, including digital systems, coordination and information mechanisms and essential services are maintained and scaled up if necessary and that they continue to be implemented through a participatory and inclusive approach. Gaps that have not had an impact earlier, may be exposed, or exacerbated in crisis. It may also be a challenge to continue, and to adapt, investments in a committed and competent workforce. New needs may arise quickly, and it can be challenging to change the course, or to reallocate focus and resources amid a crisis. As noted above, investing in solid mechanisms that can stand the test of crisis, and to prepare is of fundamental importance. Specific elements that support continuum of care in crisis can be embedded in national child protection systems and its mechanisms.
In the CBSS Children at Risk’s Registry of practices, we highlight several practice examples aiming to provide a continuum of care.
- Finland unites IT services to reduce fragmentation and improve data collection.
Read more…. - Estonia’s STAR system implements and monitors case management methodologies.
Read more… - The action plan supports a transition from institutional care services in Lithuania.
Read more… - Care reform in Norway brings prevention and early intervention close to children and families.
Read more… - Interdisciplinary approaches are strengthening coordination in Iceland, Lithuania, and Norway.
Read more… - Barnahus prevents, protects, and responds to violence against children.
Read more…