Child care practitioners trained on reform and management

More than forty practitioners drawn from Charitable Children’s Institutions (CCIs) across Kiambu County have undergone an intensive five-day training on care reform and case management to strengthen the protection and wellbeing of children in alternative care.

The training, held from October 12 to 16, 2026, at the Tumaini Retreat Centre in Kikuyu. The training was convened under the Legacy4Children (L4C) Kenya programme and facilitated by GEEP Kenya together with the State Department for Children Services (SDCS) and Kiambu L4C Local Implementing Partner representatives.

Organised under the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services, the programme was designed to equip CCI practitioners with the knowledge, tools and practical skills needed to align their work with Kenya’s ongoing care reform agenda, which seeks to transition children from institutional care towards family- and community-based care.

Speaking during the forum, National Council for Children’s Services (NCCS) representative Jane Munuhe underscored the central role that CCI practitioners play in safeguarding vulnerable children and urged participants to translate the lessons into everyday practice.

“Care reform is not just a policy on paper; it is about changing the way we think and act so that every child grows up in a safe, loving family environment rather than in an institution. As practitioners, you are the frontline of this transformation. The case management skills you have gained this week must now guide how you assess, plan and support each child under your care, because behind every file is a child whose future depends on the decisions we make,” said Munuhe.

The training sought to deepen participants’ understanding of care reform by taking them through the definitions, goals and principles that underpin the reforms in Kenya, while equipping them with practical case management skills through a step-by-step walk-through of the entire case management process.

A key highlight of the programme was the emphasis on practical case management. Beyond theory, participants were taken through hands-on sessions where they applied real case management tools, worked through sample case files and simulated the assessment, planning, referral and follow-up stages that practitioners encounter in their daily work. The practical approach was intended to build confidence and competence so that the skills could be applied immediately once participants returned to their respective institutions.

Participants also acquired skills in monitoring and evaluation, enabling them to track and assess case management processes and ensure that best practices are upheld throughout the implementation of care reforms. Facilitators guided them on designing and applying monitoring and evaluation frameworks that support the continuous improvement of care services.

By the close of the programme, participants were able to articulate the key definitions, goals and principles of care reform, demonstrate competency in using case management and assessment tools, and apply frameworks that uphold established standards of practice.

In the final sessions, participants worked collaboratively to craft action plans specific to their CCIs, ensuring that the plans addressed local needs while aligning with the overall objectives of care reform in Kenya. Facilitators noted that the action plans would form the basis for follow-up support and accountability in the coming months.

Participants welcomed the training, describing it as timely and practical. Several noted that the hands-on sessions had demystified the case management process and given them clear, usable tools to improve the quality of care and decision-making in their institutions.

The National Council for Children’s Services is the government body mandated to coordinate, supervise and regulate matters relating to children’s welfare in Kenya, including the registration and oversight of charitable children’s institutions. Its involvement in the training reflects the broader national effort to professionalise child care practice and ensure that institutions operate within established standards.

The Legacy4Children programme continues to support the roll-out of care reform across the country, working alongside GEEP Kenya, the State Department for Children Services and local implementing partners to build a child protection system anchored on strong families and empowered practitioners.

By Kipkorir Felix and Grace Naishoo