Call for Enabling Pathways for Foster Care Implementation in Maharashtra (India)

Deadline: 08-Jun-2026

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is seeking partners to strengthen foster care systems and promote family-based alternative care for children deprived of parental care across nine districts in Maharashtra, India. The initiative focuses on child protection, foster care operationalisation, family strengthening, psychosocial support, disability inclusion, community awareness, and evidence-based case management to ensure children grow up in safe, stable, and nurturing family environments.

The programme aims to strengthen district-level child protection systems, build stakeholder capacity, improve foster care implementation, and support at least 500 vulnerable children through enhanced case management, family-based care pathways, and trauma-informed support services.

Overview

UNICEF, in collaboration with the Department of Women and Child Development and local partners, is implementing a comprehensive initiative to strengthen foster care and family-based alternative care systems in Maharashtra.

The programme responds to the growing recognition that children thrive best in supportive family environments rather than long-term institutional care. Through systems strengthening, community engagement, and capacity building, the initiative seeks to improve outcomes for children who are deprived of parental care.

The project aligns with India’s child protection framework, including the Juvenile Justice Act, Mission Vatsalya, and the Model Foster Care Guidelines 2024.

Programme Objectives

The initiative aims to transform alternative care systems by promoting family-based care solutions and reducing unnecessary reliance on institutional care.

Key objectives include:

• Strengthening foster care systems
• Promoting family-based alternative care
• Supporting family reunification and restoration
• Improving child protection mechanisms
• Enhancing district-level implementation capacity
• Strengthening child-centred case management
• Expanding psychosocial support services
• Increasing disability-inclusive care approaches
• Building awareness about foster care
• Supporting evidence-based decision-making
• Integrating trauma-informed care practices
• Strengthening family preservation and support services

Geographic Coverage

The programme is being implemented across nine districts in Maharashtra:

• Mumbai City
• Mumbai Suburban
• Nagpur
• Nashik
• Ratnagiri
• Yavatmal
• Amravati
• Pune
• Ahmednagar

These districts serve as priority locations for strengthening foster care operationalisation and alternative care systems.

Why Family-Based Care Matters

Research consistently shows that children experience better developmental, emotional, educational, and social outcomes when raised in stable family environments.

Family-based care provides:

• Stronger emotional support
• Better psychosocial development
• Greater social inclusion
• Improved educational outcomes
• Enhanced protection from abuse and neglect
• Stronger community integration
• Better long-term wellbeing

The programme seeks to ensure that children deprived of parental care can access these benefits whenever safe and appropriate.

Key Focus Areas

The initiative supports a broad range of child protection and family strengthening interventions.

Priority focus areas include:

• Foster care operationalisation
• Child protection systems strengthening
• Family reunification and restoration
• Capacity building of child protection stakeholders
• Community awareness and engagement
• Social and Behavioural Change (SBC) approaches
• Foster parent support systems
• Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)
• Trauma-informed care
• Counselling services
• Disability inclusion
• Sponsorship programmes
• Kinship care
• Child-centred case management
• Placement monitoring
• Evidence-based programming

Understanding Foster Care

Foster care is a family-based alternative care arrangement where children who cannot safely remain with their biological families are placed in approved family environments.

Foster care aims to provide:

• Safety and protection
• Stable caregiving
• Emotional support
• Family-like environments
• Opportunities for healthy development
• Access to education and healthcare

The Model Foster Care Guidelines 2024 encourage the expansion of foster care as a preferred alternative to institutional care whenever appropriate.

Progress Achieved So Far

The programme has already generated positive outcomes across the intervention districts.

Key achievements include:

• Increased awareness of foster care systems
• Improved stakeholder understanding of family-based care
• Capacity-building programmes on foster care guidelines
• Community awareness campaigns
• Development of training and communication materials
• Support for foster parent registration processes
• Home study assessments
• Placement preparation support
• Post-placement monitoring and follow-up

These efforts have contributed to growing interest among prospective foster parents and stronger engagement from child protection institutions.

Expected Results

The proposed partnership seeks to generate measurable improvements in foster care implementation and child protection outcomes.

Expected outcomes include:

• Development and implementation of district foster care action plans across nine districts
• Improved tracking and evidence-based programming for at least 500 children
• Strengthened case management systems
• Enhanced support for children with disabilities
• Increased foster care placements in family environments
• Improved community awareness and acceptance of foster care
• Stronger convergence between foster care and family strengthening services
• Expanded psychosocial and mental health support systems
• Capacity building for at least 300 child protection stakeholders

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)

Children who have experienced neglect, abandonment, violence, abuse, or family separation often require specialized emotional support.

The programme integrates Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) through:

• Trauma-informed care approaches
• Individual counselling
• Family counselling
• Emotional wellbeing assessments
• Caregiver support services
• Psychosocial interventions
• Referral pathways for specialized services

These services help improve children’s emotional recovery and long-term wellbeing.

Disability Inclusion in Foster Care

The programme promotes inclusive care systems that address the needs of children with disabilities.

Key inclusion measures include:

• Accessible case management practices
• Specialized assessments
• Inclusive foster care placement processes
• Caregiver capacity building
• Disability-sensitive support services
• Improved referral systems

The goal is to ensure that children with disabilities have equal opportunities to access family-based care.

Who Should Apply?

The partnership opportunity is intended for organizations with expertise in child protection, foster care, family strengthening, and community-based social services.

Strong applicants may include:

• Child protection organizations
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• Civil society organizations
• Child rights institutions
• Social service providers
• Family support organizations
• Mental health service providers
• Disability inclusion organizations
• Community development agencies

Organizations should demonstrate experience in child welfare, foster care systems, capacity building, psychosocial support, or related sectors.

How the Partnership Works

Step 1: Review Programme Requirements

Applicants should carefully assess programme objectives, expected outcomes, and implementation requirements.

Step 2: Develop a Technical Approach

Prepare a strategy addressing:

• Foster care operationalisation
• Stakeholder capacity building
• Community engagement
• Case management systems
• MHPSS integration
• Disability inclusion

Step 3: Build Partnerships

Establish collaborations with:

• Government agencies
• Child protection stakeholders
• Community organizations
• Mental health professionals
• Disability inclusion experts

Step 4: Design Monitoring Systems

Develop mechanisms for:

• Child tracking
• Placement monitoring
• Outcome measurement
• Data collection
• Evidence generation

Step 5: Submit the Proposal

Provide a detailed proposal outlining implementation plans, expertise, staffing, expected outcomes, and sustainability measures.

Tips for a Strong Proposal

• Demonstrate expertise in child protection and foster care
• Highlight experience working with vulnerable children
• Include strong community engagement strategies
• Integrate disability inclusion throughout the programme
• Show experience in MHPSS and trauma-informed care
• Present clear monitoring and evaluation frameworks
• Emphasize sustainability and systems strengthening
• Align with national child protection policies

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Focusing only on awareness activities without systems strengthening
• Weak case management approaches
• Limited inclusion of children with disabilities
• Insufficient psychosocial support strategies
• Lack of community engagement mechanisms
• Poor coordination with government stakeholders
• Inadequate monitoring and evidence-generation plans
• Failure to address long-term sustainability

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the main goal of this initiative?

The programme aims to strengthen foster care systems and promote family-based alternative care for children deprived of parental care across selected districts in Maharashtra.

Which districts are covered by the programme?

The initiative covers Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Nagpur, Nashik, Ratnagiri, Yavatmal, Amravati, Pune, and Ahmednagar.

Why is foster care being prioritized?

Foster care provides children with safe, stable, and nurturing family environments that generally support better developmental and wellbeing outcomes than long-term institutional care.

What is MHPSS?

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) includes counselling, emotional support, trauma-informed care, and other services that promote mental wellbeing and recovery.

How many children are expected to benefit?

The programme aims to improve tracking, case management, and evidence-based support for at least 500 children in child care institutions and district child protection systems.

Will children with disabilities be included?

Yes. Disability inclusion is a core component of the initiative, with specific efforts to strengthen support and placement systems for children with disabilities.

How many stakeholders will receive capacity-building support?

The programme aims to strengthen the capacities of at least 300 child protection stakeholders across the intervention districts.

Conclusion

UNICEF’s foster care and family-based alternative care initiative in Maharashtra represents a significant step toward transforming child protection systems and reducing reliance on institutional care. By strengthening foster care implementation, enhancing child-centred case management, integrating mental health and psychosocial support, and promoting disability-inclusive approaches, the programme seeks to ensure that vulnerable children grow up in safe, supportive family environments. Through strong partnerships, community engagement, and evidence-based programming, the initiative aims to create a sustainable and scalable foster care model for Maharashtra.

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For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.