Looking back on Week 3

Hello and congratulations. We are now half way through the course and we’ve already explored numerous topics in relation to the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children.

Thank you for all the comments you have been posting. We have found it particularly interesting to hear about some of the issues you are confronting in your countries, especially when making decisions about particularly vulnerable children who are at risk of losing parental care.

This week we heard from a number of experts who have spent many years working in an international context supporting governments and non-governmental agencies and the work they undertake with children and families. This included information about how important it is to recognise and combat the additional vulnerability of some children due to stigma, discrimination, and lack of specialist services. Emily Delap also shared her understanding of how important it is that children and young people participate in decisions that affect their lives, including their care.

We heard from children and young people themselves and how important they feel it is that they are given the opportunity to meaningfully participate in decision-making. They told us how this can make a big difference to them. Care professionals from around the world also shared their own thoughts on this subject.

We hope you now feel comfortable engaging in the following issues:

• Why some groups of children are often over-represented in alternative care settings and how we should prevent this;
• The importance of meaningful participation of children and young people in decision-making about their care.

Most of all we hope the issues you covered in the course this week will be useful to you when you undertake your own responsibilities towards children, and we look forward to greeting you at the start of Week 4.