Implementation Of The Care Reform Initiative In The Suhum Municipality

ABSTRACT The research was conducted in the Suhum Municipality. It investigated the implementation of the Care Reform Initiative in the Municipality. A qualitative research approach was adopted for the study. Nine (9) key stakeholders of the Care Reform Initiative were purposively sampled for the study. The respondents were sampled based on their different background in terms of their profession, length of service in their various professions and their role as stakeholders in matters concerning Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC). The data were collected using a semistructured interview guide. A thematic analysis was used in this study. A recorded tape was played several times until a full transcription of the interviews were made. The study revealed that the Care Reform Initiative was introduced in the Suhum Municipality in 2007. All the aims and objectives of the Initiative are clearly spelt out and known to all the stakeholders interviewed. The Initiative adopts the Top-Bottom approach of Policy Implementation with the Department of Social Welfare being the mandatory body to carry out the Care Reform Initiative. There is high commitment on the part of the Social Welfare officers and some of the stakeholders to achieve the aims and objectives of the Initiative. However, they have not been able to move more than ten (10) children out of the two institutions in the municipality. This is considered an implementation failure. The main challenges leading to the failure in the implementation includes: inadequate logistics, financial challenges, weak staff strength, lack of cooperation from stakeholders, inadequate planning and public education. It was recommended that the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) should be equipped with the necessary logistics for them to operate effectively since the success of the Top-Bottom approach of implementation rests on the designer and v implementer of the policy. The practice of “gatekeeping” which is the thorough assessment of a child placed in an institution and an exit plan should be strengthened to reduce the period that the child will stay in the institution. There should be proper public education to remove the stigma attached to orphans in the society to encourage families to take care of orphans in the event of the death of a parent. The cooperation among stakeholders, especially among the DSW, institutions and the community must be strengthened. The help of traditional and community leaders can encourage fostering among their community members. Lastly, the Government of Ghana should strengthen its social intervention programs to mitigate poverty among the rural communities. This is because the major factor that leads to children ending up in institutions is poverty.