Developing an Essential Package for Young Children Affected by HIV/AIDS

Nicole RichardsonApril 28, 2010

Developing an Essential Package for Young Children

Affected by HIV/AIDS

Overview

1. History of Initiative

2. Objectives and the evolution of the Essential Package

3. Draft Framework

Background

• This Initiative is being funded by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

• It is a two year grant and is a collaborative project with Save the Children, CARE International, and the Consultative Group on ECCD

• The project will inform an ages and stages approach to programming for young children affected by HIV/AIDS

• Standards will be HIV sensitive but not HIV exclusive

What do we mean when discussing ECD for OVC programming?

– Child has adequate supports and stimulation to facilitate optimal development across all domains (social/emotional, cognitive, language, motor) and is prepared at school entry

– Primary caregiver(s) has adequate supports to ensure she/he has the capacity and skills to provide the necessary care and stimulation for the child’s development

– ECD will be mainstreamed into HIV/AIDS programming

What do we mean when discussing ECD for OVC programming cont’d

– The inclusion of “Care and Development” as a service component

– Gender must take a prominent role in any OVC/ECD programming

– Economic strengthening and rights are the foundation for a healthy family and community

– Age groups will be broken down: Prenatal; 0-2; 3-5; 6-8

How do we understand the needs of OVC?

• Most OVC programs focus on the needs of children 0 to 18 with emphasis on primary school aged children

• Less focus on young children and adolescence, even though their needs are great

• Broad agreement that there has been a lack of attention to ECD for OVC programming

Understanding needs, cont’d

There have been some positive changes

1. Advocacy done on the need for standards to ensure programs are reaching children in ways that improve overall wellbeing

2. NGO community has also advocated for the recognition of ECD in PEPFAR OVC programming

3. Now have a set of standards for programs, however, they do not address the age-specific needs of OVC in a comprehensive fashion

Initiative will seek to improve the overall quality of OVC programming by:

1. Placing emphasis on the need of young children (prenatal to 8)

2. Highlighting the needs of caregivers of young children especially in the prenatal period

3. Develop standards of care related to healthy child development for programmers, volunteers, and caregivers while building off existing OVC quality standards and tools to measure wellbeing

1. Rationale for mainstreaming ECD into HIV/AIDS programming;

2. Age-appropriate quality standards for young OVC; and

3. Tool Kits to support standards

Components of the Essential Package

Part 1: Rationale

– Reasons for mainstreaming early childhood development (ECD) into HIV/AIDS programming

– Will build off of literature and program reviews

– Intended Users: program managers, policy advocates, trained service delivery professionals

Part 2: Age-Appropriate Quality Standards for OVC

– Will be across service areas (health, food & nutrition, care & development, rights/protection, and household economic strengthening and family centered care)

– Focus on children and caregivers

– Special consideration to gender and vulnerabilities

Part 2: Age-Appropriate Quality Standards for OVC Cont’d

– Will be age appropriate: prenatal; 0-2; 3-5; 6-8

– Will include Essential Actions at the community, caregiver and child level as well as Specific Recommendations per age group

– Intended Users: program managers, policy makers

Care and Development Definition:

Principles:

Desired Outcomes:

Essential Actions: Community

Essential Actions: Caregiver

Essential Actions: Children

Pregnancy 0-2 3-5 6-8

Specific Recommendations

HIV+

Gender Considerations

Cross Service Linkages

Other Vulnerabilities

Part 3: Tool Kits

1. Tool Kit for Program Managers– Monitoring tools

2. Tool Kit for Service Providers/Volunteers– Monitoring tools and job aids

3. Tool Kit for Parents/Caregivers– Care Guides

Value Added of this Initiative

– Working across disciplines (HIV and ECD)– An ages and stages approach to OVC

programming– Focus on HIV infected child and caregiver

and their specific needs– Cross service linkages to provide holistic

care

Thank You!