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How often should I be contacting children and families?

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How often should I be contacting children and families?

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Calls should be varied between connecting with children directly (if they are at an age of effective phone conversation) and their caregivers.

CALL FREQUENCY

  • Depending on how urgent a family’s situation might be, your staff should plan to be in contact 4-7 days a week.
  • Weekly communication with local and national government partners, child protection and other relevant (health, WASH, education, protection, shelter) humanitarian coordination mechanisms, civil society networks and community leaders.

USE PHONES

  • If both your staff and the family have smart phones with video capability, consider using WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger for verbal and visual contact.
  • The organization Changing the Way We Care has provided the following sample of a monitoring program during social distancing measures:

CALL PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS

  • Attain update on status of all family members
  • Track case plan actions
  • Provide simple guidance on prevention, signs and symptoms, prevention, and emergency numbers
  • Assess for and make needed referrals

CALL CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

  • Attain update on health and well-being status
  • Track case plan actions
  • Provide child-friendly guidance on preventative measures, maintaining learning
  • Provide basic psychosocial support

CALL RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES

  • Attain updates on entry and exit of children
  • Check in about regular supplies, especially WASH, and educational / recreational supplies
  • Assess for child protection issues

MAKE CASE NOTES