Ghana’s Department of Social Welfare- three northern regions of Ghana

 
Child protection and services for vulnerable children run through everything AfriKids does and so the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) is a key partner for AfriKids Ghana. The DSW is responsible for, among other things, the operation of children’s homes and justice and administration of child related issues. Two major programmes are under development within the DSW’s remit in 2012, these being the National Action Plan for Orphans and Vulnerable Children and the Care Reform Initiative.

AfriKids Ghana is consulting on the National Action Plan which is advocating a move towards more home based care, which a focus of AfriKids’ area programmes. AfriKids Ghana is also working closely with the DSW to help mainstream the partner projects which run children’s homes; Operation Smiles, Operation Mango Tree and Operation Bolgatanga. All three homes are greatly respected in their regions and are working towards complete independence and sustainability by 2014. A key plank of their sustainability strategies is to gain further recognition and support by the DSW as the Care Reform Initiative which is set to streamline children’s homes comes into force.