Residential Care Programme for children in Crisis by Providing Continuum of Care to Orphaned and Vulnerable Children including children living with HIV/AIDS

The Situation and Evidence

Maharashtra is one of the Indian states hit hardest by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with NACO estimating prevalence at 0.50% among pregnant women and 18% among women in prostitution (WIP). There are no official national or state estimates of the number of children orphaned by HIV or the number of children infected or affected; however, UNICEF has estimated that 4 million children in the country (concentrated in high burden states) are affected by HIV. A 2008 study estimates that 40% of HIV-positive children in Mumbai are orphans. CCDT initiated its Residential Care Programme on this premise and over the years extended its intervention by reaching out to children in crisis.

Providing Holistic Care

Health and Nutrition: All CCDT’s Residential Care Centers have a visiting nutritionist who prepares a seasonal menu based on the children’s requirements. Homemade supplements and a special diet are provided to children according to their health status.

Medical Support: All HIV-infected children at the centers undergo medical treatment (ART) and are supported by CCDT staff at the centers to adhere to their treatment. Each center has a visiting pediatrician who assesses the health of children residing at the centers and provides medical support as required.

Education: CCDT ensures that all children at their centers are enrolled in school. The centers engage in-house teachers and tutors to bring children up to the level of education required by their schools and enable them to excel academically.

Future Planning: CCDT encourages each child and their existing family members (extended members as well) to co-create a plan for the child’s future, that includes mapping support networks, identifying career choices and listing potential sources of income.

Psycho-social Support, and Counseling: CCDT engages in-house counselors to provide children residing at these centers with counseling support.

Skill-based training: Children at the centers receive life skills and employability skill training that enables the process of transition from institutional life to independent living.

Legal Aid: In some cases, legal aid is provided to ensure that children have access to property that is rightfully theirs.

CCDT provides care and support to vulnerable children living in its residential crisis intervention centers (CICs): Ashray, Aakaar, Ankur-Asmita, and Umang.

Presently there are 90 children residing at our 3 residential centres at Mumbai, Badlapur and Khandala. Overall 10000 families have benefited from this programme since 1995. Today CCDT continues this programme for care and support to more than 1000 new families infected/affected with HIV in Greater Mumbai.

There are many success stories that CCDT documented over 25 years, CCDT has positively impacted the lives of 570 children through its continuum of care and support provided.