Deadline: 30-Mar-2026
UNICEF Chhattisgarh invites grant applications to strengthen foster care, child protection, and family reunification. With a budget of INR 5,500,000, the initiative focuses on capacity building, legal safeguards, community awareness, and innovative interventions to ensure safe and nurturing environments for vulnerable children.
Overview of the Program
The UNICEF Chhattisgarh Foster Care Initiative aims to protect vulnerable children, enhance family reunification, provide legal assistance, and create safe, nurturing environments across the state. The program emphasizes:
- Child protection and safeguarding measures
- Family reunification and foster care placements
- Legal assistance and access to justice
- General protection and emergency response mechanisms
- Community engagement and awareness
Program Funding and Scope
- Indicative Budget: INR 5,500,000
- Key Activities Funded: Policy development, stakeholder training, community outreach, technology integration in Child Care Institutions (CCIs), foster family training, and ongoing monitoring of foster placements
- Geographic Scope: All districts of Chhattisgarh, scaled to 33 districts over four years
Key Achievements
- Current Reach: 74 children placed with 61 foster families
- Policy Support: SOPs aligned with JJ Act 2016, Model JJ Rules, and Model Foster Care Guidelines, clarifying identification, assessment, placement, and monitoring processes
- Foster Parent Process: A simplified 10-step process available in Hindi
- Capacity Building: 2,960 stakeholders trained across 38 sessions covering legal provisions, psychosocial assessment, and foster placement monitoring
- Technology Integration: 36 Alexa devices installed in CCIs to encourage learning, curiosity, and interactive engagement
- Community Awareness: Campaigns reached 56,700 people, identifying 236 potential foster families
- Placements and Outcomes: 86 children in foster care, 2 moved to aftercare, 5 restored to biological parents, 1 adopted
- Training and Research: A 20-hour structured foster family training reduced placement disruptions to 15%
Key Program Milestones
- Launch of the Foster Family Network on 18 October 2024, providing peer support and promoting social acceptance of foster care
- Recognition events for foster families and top-performing districts
- Pilot replication of the Chhattisgarh model in Sri Lanka in collaboration with UNICEF and local NGOs
Program Evolution
- Year 1: Awareness campaigns, IEC material development, stakeholder sensitization
- Year 2: Experiential learning, collaborative identification of foster families, preparing children for transition
- Year 3: Structured training for foster families, enhancing skills and capacity
- Year 4: Scaling to 33 districts, implementing community-based placements
Remaining Gaps and Challenges
- Uneven implementation across districts
- Capacity gaps among new functionaries
- Delays due to digital skill limitations
- Insufficient trained foster families for older children, sibling groups, and children with special needs
How the Program Works
- Application and Identification: Stakeholders submit applications and identify children in need of foster care
- Stakeholder Training: DCPU officials, CWCs, CCIs, police, and health functionaries receive structured training
- Community Engagement: Awareness campaigns and outreach to identify potential foster families
- Foster Placement: Placement of children in trained foster families, supported with ongoing monitoring and guidance
- Support and Feedback: Continuous 24/7 assistance and structured feedback mechanisms ensure stability and safety
- Monitoring and Reporting: Systematic reporting, data collection, and impact assessment
Tips for Applicants
- Align proposals with child protection, legal safeguards, and family reunification objectives
- Emphasize capacity building and community engagement strategies
- Demonstrate mechanisms for ongoing monitoring, support, and technology integration
- Include culturally relevant IEC materials and participatory approaches
- Address gaps such as care for older children, sibling groups, and children with special needs
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overlooking legal and policy alignment (JJ Act, Model JJ Rules, Foster Care Guidelines)
- Failing to provide structured training for stakeholders and foster families
- Limited community engagement or awareness campaigns
- Insufficient planning for ongoing monitoring and support
- Ignoring inclusion of children with special needs or complex family situations
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the main goal of the program? To strengthen foster care, child protection, and family reunification across Chhattisgarh.
2. How many children are currently in foster care? 74 children are placed with 61 foster families.
3. What training is provided to foster families? A 20-hour structured program covering psychosocial support, legal provisions, and placement monitoring.
4. How does the program support community engagement? Through campaigns, Rajya Utsav events, local partnerships, and culturally relevant IEC materials.
5. Are technology tools used? Yes, 36 Alexa devices have been installed in CCIs to support learning and engagement.
6. How is foster family support ensured? Continuous 24/7 monitoring, peer networks, and structured guidance for placements.
7. Can the program model be replicated? Yes, it is being considered for replication in Sri Lanka in collaboration with UNICEF.
Conclusion
The UNICEF Chhattisgarh Foster Care Program has established a strong foundation for child protection and family reunification through policy support, stakeholder training, technology integration, and community engagement. By addressing gaps in foster care, empowering families, and promoting safe and nurturing environments, the initiative creates scalable models for child welfare and system-level improvements.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
