Every child deserves the love, protection, and belonging that a family provides. A nurturing family environment supports a child’s emotional, social, and psychological development and helps build confidence, identity, and resilience. For children who cannot remain with their biological families, family-based alternatives such as adoption, foster care, or kinship care are essential to ensure their well-being. However, many children grow up in child care institutions and face a difficult transition when they leave care at the age of eighteen.
Care leavers often encounter challenges such as limited education, unemployment, housing insecurity, and lack of social support. Therefore, a strong aftercare system is critical to prepare them for independent adulthood through education, vocational training, mentorship, financial literacy, and psychosocial support.
Mission Vatsalya must also establish a robust mechanism to capture and track information on such children before and after they exit institutional care. Systematic monitoring by Child Protection Units and institutions can ensure continuity of support, improve policy responses, and help care leavers build stable, dignified, and self-reliant futures.
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