Jamaica: Child Rights Situation Analysis of Children Who Have Lost Parental Care or Are at Risk of Losing it

1. Background: 

SOS Children’s Villages (SOS CVI) is an independent, non-governmental social development organization working with children who have lost parental care or are at risk of losing it. SOS CVI operates under a rights-based approach as defined by the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), agreed in 1989 by the United Nations. Since its inception in Austria in 1949, SOS CVI grew and expanded its reach globally through the implementation of alternative care programmes, family strengthening programmes, and advocating and establishing partnerships for quality care.

SOS Children's Villages started its work in Jamaica in 1970 and currently has 2 structured Programmes with the following services:

• The provision of direct services of alternative care related to the care, education, and health of children, adolescents, and youth (CAY) of the target group (without parental care). This service is delivered in a family-like setting in villages with unique, semi-autonomous houses.
• Advocacy for the rights of children without parental care.

SOS Jamaica is also providing support to young people through the modality of independent and supervised accommodation (SIL), a service aimed at young people who are in the transition from a formal care environment to independent living in the community. In general, this service offers less intensive care compared to the direct care services described above and can be considered as the 'final phase' of alternative care provided by SOS Children's Villages. Support and modality can take different forms depending on the needs and circumstances of the young persons and be gradually decreased as their maturity and autonomy increase.

Another not structured service provided by the organization is related to family strengthening (FS) aimed at families of girls, boys, adolescents, and young people who are in alternative care. Under the new programmes structure of SOS CVI, this service that includes intensive work with the families of the target group is named as direct family empowerment (DFE).

In tandem with the Organization’s Core Policy ‘SOS Care Promise’ guided by international frameworks such as the Convention of Children´s Rights (CRC), SOS Children’s Villages in Jamaica has embarked on a path to reevaluate its services to better serve its target group, to improve the quality of its services. In order to accomplish this, the Association seeks to execute a Child Rights Situation Analysis of children who have lost or at risk of losing its parental care (CRSA) that will examine their situation from a national level, including the analysis of the situation or implementation of the UN guidelines.

The Study of the Situation of Children's Rights will help SOS Children’s Villages in Jamaica in defining and planning where and what kind of programmes/services are required in the country to respond adequately to the needs of the target group. Having an approximate quantitative and qualitative analysis of the target group (children without parental care and children at risk of losing it) will provide a basis for decision-making on the future growth of national programmes, innovations required to improve the quality of its services and will open the possibility to develop advocacy process with key actors. That is why, the interest arises to contextualize and collect relevant information from its target group and their families, as well as from national and local stakeholders and key actors.

In addition, to provide some inputs for its National Strategy development process (that should be developed in 2024 and would be in place up to 2030), the CRSA study will point to key issues for the organization's advocacy work. Issues such as the advance in the implementation of the UN guidelines and also the causes of origin of rights violations at the national levels; the characteristics and quantity of children at risk of parental loss or who have lost parental care among other information as the gatekeeping process, contributes to the identification of the priorities for advocacy with the Government of Jamaica (GoJ) in order to achieve a change in practices or National legislation to guarantee the right to live in a family and prevent the risk of losing the parental care and also to help to strengthening the child welfare and the child protection system. It will also assist in repositioning SOS as a more desirable donor recipient.

2. Objectives of the Study: 

2.1. General Objective: 

To have a better understanding of the situation of the rights of vulnerable children, adolescents and young people who have lost parental care or at risk of losing it, the implementation of the UN guidelines and the responses provided by the protection system in Jamaica.

2.2. Specific Objectives: 

1. To identify the reasons (key drivers) for child-family separation; Caribbean/ mainly Jamaica patterns and trends;
2. To better understand the situation of children, adolescents and young people affected by child family separation at risk of losing or that already lost parental care; children, adolescents, young people and family well-being and coping mechanisms – analysis in terms of various factors, e.g. gender, socio-economic status, access to education and health, etc.);
3. To determine the approximate amount and relevant areas of the country with the highest incidence of CAY at risk and those who have lost parental care (rural verses urban context with relevant consideration of the types of communities including but not limited to risk for violence etc);
4. To distinguish the gaps in responses related to child-family separation and how they could be improved (Multi-level and multi-sectoral approaches and service delivery, including ideas and proposals coming from children and key stakeholders about responses to the issue of child-family separation and how they could be improved);
5. To identify innovations (outside of the traditional institutionalization model and the SOS family-like structure) in care/support services being provided within the Jamaican Child Care Landscape.
6. To understand what progress has been made in the implementation of the UN guidelines on Alternative Care at local level (Barret Town and Stony Hill) or national level (structuring of programs per their tracking and assessment tool)[1].

2.3. Specific Research Questions: 

• What are the key drivers of child-family separation?
• What is the situation of children affected by child-family separation (How do they exercise their rights to food, education, health, protection, recreation?), socioeconomic characteristics of families at risk?
• What are the gaps in responses related to child-family separation that need addressing? (Types of responses for family strengthening, diversity of alternative care options, work with families of origin of children in alternative care, support for families of reintegrated children, legal frameworks, etc.)
• Which are the priority regions/type of services suitable, conclusions and recommendations for the work of the SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica in relation to the target group?
• Who are the most vulnerable populations within CAY target group at national level?
• What are the ideas and proposals of children, and other key stakeholders about responses to the issue of child-family separation and how they could be improved?
• Who are the key stakeholders and actors better placed to make alliances that will contribute to improve the quality of SOS JM´s services? This specifically relates to its positioning and its effectiveness in advocating for the rights of CAY?
• What progress has been made in the implementation of the UN guidelines on Alternative Care (structuring of programs per their tracking and assessment tool, gaps, opportunities, process, legal framework, etc.)
• What are the key elements that ought to be included in the strategic plan for the organization generally and in relation to youth development and family strengthening?
• What are the key elements that ought to be included in a strategic plan of advocacy, which should be the key actions in advocacy to ensure the promotion of public policies, the strengthening of the child protections systems, in regard of the UN Guidelines and to ensure the right to live in a family?

3. Methodological Structure of the Study: 

3.1. Focus and Design of the Study:

The design and preparation of the study should be child/youth centered using a mixed methodology including participatory, quantitative (e.g. survey, analysis of national statistics, etc) and qualitative (e.g. focus groups, interviews, etc) research as well as policy and system mapping. The best methodology should be determined by the consultant. Timeline of the study will be 5 months.

A primary component must be the use of focus groups facilitated with and by youth. This youth-centered approach should consider the different age groups serviced by SOS as well as sample those who have exited. It will include the mining of existing data from internal and external sources and research and the collection of qualitative data to bring in the perspectives of children and young people affected by the issue of family separation.

3.2. Collection of Secondary Information (Literature review, mining existing data and research, policy, and system mapping):

• Statistics on the characteristics of children, and adolescents who make up the target group;
• Socio-economic statistics of families and communities in the locality;
• Mapping of state, private or non-profit institutions working at the national level that are accountable to SOS Jamaica target group and/or that affect the work with the organization's target group;
• Mapping of non-governmental organizations working with the same target population as SOS Children's Villages; provide descriptions of their service offerings;
• Application of the United Nations alternative care tracking progress tool (to be provided to the consultant). In this case, the consultancy should compare the CRSA tool with the tracking progress tool (provided) and make a complementation between both tools, to have a very strong tool for the collection of information.

3.3. Collection of Primary information: (Qualitative and participatory research through focus groups and interviews)

For this undertaking, the researchers will be provided with a programme orientation. Specific data from our databases is based on an agreed schedule[2].

Qualified informants should be interviewed to substantiate secondary information and augment gaps arising from incomplete and/or outdated secondary information. This will include previous SOS participants.

Possible stakeholders may be representatives of:

• Ministry of Education and Youth (MoEY);
• Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA);
• Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA), and UN agencies (UNICEF, UNAIDS, etc.) working in Jamaica;
• International, national, and local NGOs with children as a target group;
• Outstanding academics in their production of knowledge on the systems of care of children, adolescents, and young people or on issues of childhood in general;
• Judges, prosecutors, legislators, or other state representatives who can provide the required information;
• Children and their caregivers.

3.3.1. For focus groups: Three focus groups in two or three locations (families or children at risk, children in alternative care, and young people who have graduated from the protection system).

3.3.2. For interviews per locality, two or three localities selected, (three or four interview per locality): These should be indicated in the Inception Report by the consultant (s).

3.4. Techniques of Information Gathering:

• It is crucial to consult a well-balanced and representative sample of stakeholders that ensures the greatest possible objectivity and detection of gaps.
• Please note the suggested data collection requirements for specific questions coming from the specific objectives. Consultants´ proposal should reflect the methodology for each of them.

3.5. Additional Data Collection Suggestions:

Secondary information: Documentary review, national statistics from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), the governing body, or other recognized organizations with up-to-date and valid data. (Literature review and database mapping)

Semi-structured interviews: relevant authorities for children and the family, rights defenders, and organizations that provide services similar to SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica. (Qualitative and participatory research) (Qualitative and participatory research)

The methodology mentioned above is suggestive. The consultant is expected to adjust the ToR and proposed a methodology, based on their experience in this type of research to obtain better results. This should be reflected in the inception report.

4. Scope of Services: 

4.1. Expected Products: 

First product: Within 15 calendar days of the start of the consultancy, the consultant must submit the inception report that will include:

• Executive Summary: where the objectives, scope of the study, and methodology for the elaboration of the study are described.
• Design of the work plan for the collection of primary information: instruments, the proposal of key stakeholders to interview, and the work schedule.

This product will be developed in close coordination with the contracting parties and must be approved by the representative team designated by the NA of SOS Children's Villages

Jamaica and the IOR. Before finalization, the product must be reviewed, and feedback provided by a designated team that will include members of Jamaica´s National Office and members from the International Regional Office (IOR) in LAAM.

Before starting the study, a non-objection to the scope of the study, methodology and work plan will be given by the designated team.

Second product (Preliminary report): 65 calendar days after the first product has been approved, a report will be presented on the work of collecting information according to what the structure of the report requests in addition to:

• Executive summary describing the purpose of the study, which are the main results of it.
• Description of the methodology and results of the fieldwork.
• Preliminary description of the findings for each of the specific objectives.
• Detail of the information gaps found and proposed actions to remedy them.
• PowerPoint Presentation summarizing the aforementioned results.

After the gathering of secondary information, a feedback process should be initiated to assess the gaps of information and determine what primary information would be needed.

After the gathering of primary information, a feedback process should be initiated where a draft report of the information gathered, and analysis completed is presented in a workshop.

Third product (final report): Within 60 calendar days of the approval of the second product, the final report of the evaluation will be presented, the contents of which should include the following:

1. Executive summary, which will describe the objectives, results, and recommendations of the study,
2. Background,
3. Design and methodology of the study,
4. Description of the information collection process,
5. Results by specific objectives of the study,
6. Conclusions and recommendations,
7. Annexes: instruments used and consolidated in matrices.

In addition, the consultant should prepare a Power Point presentation of the results of the study and must provide the means of verification to support the field work done.

The final report should be comprehensive in nature, that is, it should integrate the systematization and analysis of primary and secondary information in a harmonic and creative way so as to effectively respond to the objectives of the study. The final report

must be approved by the representative team designated by SOS Children's Villages Jamaica. The consultant will have a period of 10 calendar days to make amendments if they are requested.

4.2. Information to Receive: 

The representative team designated by SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica will provide the consultancy with information regarding the work of the Children’s Villages in the Jamaica, and other reports and documents considered relevant to the study.

4.3. Intellectual Property: 

The consultancy must deliver the final products to the National Director with Programme Development Advisor in copy of SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica according to the delivery schedule of products.

The consultancy will not have the right to patent, title, or other forms of intellectual property protection with respect to any of the documents elaborated.

These rights are the exclusive property of SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica, which will have the right to use and modify them as it deems convenient.

5. Profile and expectations of the Consultant - External Team: 

1. The consultants will be expected to sign a non-disclosure agreement and be aware of the SOS Child Safeguarding policies prior to the start of the project
2. The call is extended to both local Jamaican as well as international consultants provided that they:
   • Can demonstrate an understanding of the Jamaican context including the stakeholders and childcare landscape.
   • Are able to effectively communicate in English.
3. Consulting team comprising experts in different social areas/disciplines (sociology, psychology, social work, political science, pedagogy, etc linked to work in university research centers). Private sector consultants are expected to work with an academic/research center in executing the project.
4. The consulting team should have the following qualities among its members:
   • Proficiency and proven experience in research on the rights of children;
   • Knowledge about Jamaica's social welfare system, official programs for children, adolescents, and youth, and the work of the childcare sector and civil society for their rights;
   • Previous work experience in the social sciences or in a related area; minimum 5 years;
   • Accredited experience in participatory research methods;
   • Notable skills in writing reports, research, and analysis;
   • Excellent skills in facilitating participatory spaces and interpersonal relationships (especially with children, adolescents and young people).

It would be an asset if they have:

• Field experience within the subject of study. Preference will be given to bidders with proven experience in similar jobs;
• Knowledge about Family Strengthening programs, Foster Care programs, and other alternative care solutions;
• Knowledge of SOS Children's Villages Jamaica.

6. Coordination and Supervision: 

The consultant will report to the Programme Development Advisor and the Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator who will be responsible for supervising, coordinating monitoring, and maintaining consistent communication with the consultant.

7. Term of Consultancy and Submission of Proposal: 

The consultancy will be carried out for a maximum period of up to 150 calendar days from the day after the contract is signed.

[1] In this objective is very important and it must be clear that SOS Jamaica wants to identify the gaps and opportunities to develop actions on advocacy, to help to develop public policies in favor of the target group. If the government made some progress or if SOS Jamaica can help them to start a care reform process to improve the child protection system and the gatekeeping process.

[2] The researchers will need to sign a non-disclosure agreement and be aware of the SOS CV Child Safeguarding policies prior to the start of their work.

How to Apply: 

Presentation of the Technical and Economic Proposal: 

Any interested University or consultant (s) in carrying out the study must present a technical and economic proposal describing how to improve the proposed methodology, to achieve the objectives, characteristics of the methodology to be implemented for each of the objectives and the cost for the fulfillment of each objective, or the cost can also be applied according to the methodology to be implemented.

Documents to be submitted by the interested University or consultant (s)" 

Interested Universities and consultant (s) should include the following information in their correspondences:

• Track record of experience in the development of similar studies;
• Experience collaborating with universities or other academic research centers;
• Resumes of the researchers. A combination of field of studies that are complementary to perform this study will be highly valued;
• Technical and Financial proposal;
• Samples of other studies developed (when possible to disclose).

Proposal Submission Date: 

The application must be made via e-mail indicating in the title of the note "Consultancy to Develop a study to Analyze the Situation of the Rights of Children (CRSA) who have lost family care or are at risk of losing it" with their respective files (including the technical offer that includes the financial offer and other attachments required in point 8), to the e-mail addresses lanoy.barrett@sos-jamaica.org; romae.simpson@sos-jamaica.org; kemmisha.nesbitt@sos jamaica.org and Programas.LAAM@sos-kd.org no later than 5:00 p.m. on day 21st day July of 2023.

Queries and/or Clarifications: 

Queries and/or clarifications will only be received by e-mail. You can send your questions to the e-mail address: lanoy.barrett@sos-jamaica.org and Programas.LAAM@sos-kd.org, cc to romae.simpson@sos-jamaica.org and Kemmisha.nesbitt@sos-jamaica.org.