A foot in the door

A report on the Child Community Care study evaluating the effect of Community Based Organisation support on Child wellbeing in HIV affected communities. 

This report highlights the important role CBO's play in providing support and services for children living in high HIV affected environments who are exposed to a number of risks and who are highly vulnerable to risks to their psychosocial development.

Some of the key findings include: 

  • Cash transfers show promise for enhancing child wellbeing. When cash is combined with good care, the effects are enhanced. CBOs have multiple possibilities for contributing to
  • the care elements and these should be included in cash transfer programmes to maximize their impact.
  • Cognitive and developmental challenge for children infected, affected and living in high HIV environments is a challenge. CBOs are well placed to provide support and this should be a priority.
  • In the HIV response, children infected with HIV, exposed to HIV in utero and those living in a household with any member who is HIV positive should be prioritized for care.
  • Mental health of caregivers is an important factor in child development. CBOs are well placed to provide support for caregivers and a family approach which is inclusive and extends to wider family members should be routine

Ongoing funding for such organisations is an important provision to ensure the holistic
provision of direct services to young children and the families.

Click here to download the full report