Comprehensive Response to Problems of Child Protection through Community Based Child Care System by Using Multi Stakeholders Approach: a case of Forum on Sustainable Child Empowerment in Addis Ababa

Abstract

The major objective of this study was to describe the contribution of community based multistakeholders’ approach to child protection under the initiative of FSCE. To this end, a descriptive, qualitative research design was employed. Semi structured interview, case histories, focused group discussion and document reviews were used for collecting the data .In order to select the participants of the study, the researcher used both purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The data obtained from the participants were analyzed thematically. The results of the study indicated that the major roles of the executive committee were coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the strategic plan of the Council, mobilizing resources from the community and child focused organizations, suggesting sustainable interventions that address the priority issues of child protection in their respective woredas’, and giving reports on the situation of children in their woredas’. On the other hand the major interventions techniques that were followed by the community based multistakeholders council are community conversation program, care and support techniques, creating an IGA for vulnerable children and their families, access to education for vulnerable children, model parenting skill training for guardians, parents, members of family and teachers, building the capacity of Iddir coalition and religious institution for giving their service at large , Peer to peers education in school on various child protection issues, and prepare workshop and sanitization programs for the community on child protection issues. The community participation, in both research sites, the community has participating in problem initiation, planning ,problem solving, and also involved in resource mobilization activities .The major challenges indicated on the findings were unable to open an account in the name of the council in woreda 8,high staff turnover from both the sectorial office and from FSCE in both woredas’, limited budget in implementing what have been planned specially in woreda 8,double responsibility and limitation of time to involve more on the multistakeholders’ activities in both woredas’, challenges to bring commercial sex worker to the rehabilitation center in both woredas, and there is a problem in implementation of the law relating to child trafficking/migration. Finally, implication to the social work practice should be: social worker should give the service that they are responsible, respecting human dignity and worth, be competent professionally, build good interpersonal relationship with their clients, and they should act in a trustful professional manner.