Strengthening Family Care in India

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Strengthening Family Care in India Highlight – December 2025

By Mark Riley | Senior Programmes Lead

Thanks to your generous support, we're continuing to make significant strides in transforming India's child care system—shifting from institutions to family care and ensuring every child has the chance to thrive in a loving environment. Here's a snapshot of our progress from October to December 2025:

Key Achievements

BICON 2025, Malaysia : On 15–16 October 2025, HHC helped organise and host the Biennial International Conference on Alternative Care (BICON 2025) in Malaysia, which brought the Governments, Practitioners and Young People with Lived Experienced (of care) together to say, loudly and clearly: Every child belongs in a safe, loving family — never an institution.

And your support made sure India’s voice was heard loud and clear.

Here’s what you helped us achieve at BICON 2025:

• Six governments from across Asia (Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand) sat side-by-side with young people who grew up in care, listening, learning, and committing to real change.
• The Youth Takeover on Day 2 was unforgettable: care-experienced young people from across the region took the stage, shared their stories, and led the conversation. The room was in tears, then on its feet — proof that authentic youth voices are the most powerful advocacy tool we have.
• Thanks to you, we brought a high-level delegation from Odisha Government. Her closing reflections — and the new commitments she made on stage — have already unlocked deeper partnership and faster progress back home.

The energy in the room was electric. Governments saying, “We can do this — and we will.” New regional alliances were born. And most importantly, young people with lived experience felt seen, heard, and believed in.

Watch the magic for yourself:

BICON 2025 Highlights – Video 1

BICON 2025 Highlights – Video 2 (featuring the Youth Takeover)#

National Advocacy and Partnerships: We finalised and signed a revised non-financial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UNICEF India, strengthening our collaboration on care reform initiatives. We also deepened ties the India Alternative Care Network (IACN), where we joined the Family Strengthening Working Group to provide technical expertise.

Evidence and Knowledge Sharing: We also reviewed and updated technical briefs from the USAID/CAFT program, making them more inclusive for children with disabilities Our team participated in a four-day Training of Trainers in Delhi on transitioning care services, organised by BCN and IACN, to build capacity among civil society organisations.

Community Empowerment in Jharkhand (through our partner, CINI):

• Conducted community awareness sessions in Ranchi slums, reaching over 50 parents and community members with sessions on alternative care, child rights, protection schemes, and Mission Vatsalya—facilitated by District Child Protection Officers.
• Assessed and supported "Safe Spaces" in communities, visiting sites to enhance activities that boost children's school attendance, confidence, and family bonds. · Inspected four Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in Ranchi with 12 officials, providing guidance on standards, child protection, and reintegration.
• We met with district committees in Khunti and Ranchi to fast-track foster care and sponsorship cases, ensuring eligible families receive financial support.
• Developed training materials on critical topics including child marriage, labour, trafficking, and alternative care for the Ranchi District Child Protection Unit.
• Collaborated with state officials to review guidelines for Children Without Parental Care and delivered sessions on NGO roles in mental health and child labour elimination.

Looking Ahead

In the coming months, we will:

• Expand collaborations in Jharkhand and Odisha, including establishing State Care Reform Working Groups and conducting care system assessments.
• Scale up community gatekeeping mechanisms and workforce training to prevent family separations and promote reintegration of children from institutions to families.
• Advance policy advocacy to redirect funding from institutions to family and community-based solutions.
• Support the creation of a Care Leavers network in Jharkhand, starting in Khunti, to amplify voices of young people with care experience.
• Undertake a learning exchange to Romania for Odisha and central government stakeholders to gain insights on global best practices, fostering momentum for inclusive care reform.
• Work strategically with UNICEF and IACN to advance national and state activities to further implement and embed care reform.
• Continue donor outreach to sustain our work amid funding challenges.

Why This Matters

Every child deserves a safe, nurturing family—not an institution. Your contributions are helping us build scalable models that prioritize family strengthening, disability inclusion, and community support, aligning with India's Mission Vatsalya and Sustainable Development Goals. Together, we're proving that systemic change is possible.

You can help us reach even more children by sharing and supporting our campaign: Back to Family 

A Note from Our Team

Despite funding cuts, including the closure of our USAID/CAFT program, we secured emergency support from the OAK Foundation to keep core activities going through to 2026. Your donations through GlobalGiving can be vital in ensuring no child is left behind. Thank you for standing with us!