Why reintegration became a child rights priority
In 2017, SOS Children’s Villages in Ghana conducted a Rapid Assessment of its care programmes to better understand what was truly in the best interest of children in its care. The findings revealed that some children living in the Children’s Villages had one or both biological parents alive, or other family members who could potentially care for them.

 

The child’s right to grow up in a family
Under Ghana’s Care Reform Initiative (CRI), every child has the right to grow up in a family environment where they can experience belonging, identity, and stability, so long as it is safe and protective. Guided by this principle, we began a gradual and well-monitored process of reintegrating children with their families of origin, ensuring that each step respected the child’s safety, dignity, and best interests.

 

Strengthening protection through diverse care options
Rather than reducing care, we expanded our child protection response by reviewing and strengthening alternative care options. These included short-term care, foster care, kinship care, reintegration and reunification, and integrating SOS families into surrounding communities. With the support of the Department of Social Welfare, families were carefully traced and assessed, and children began supervised visits during school holidays, allowing relationships to rebuild while safeguarding the child’s wellbeing.

 

When love is present, but resources are not
Many parents and relatives were willing and eager to receive their children back. However, lack of financial support and socio-economic hardship often stood in the way. These challenges underscored a critical child protection reality: reintegration must be supported, or it risks exposing children to neglect, unsafe conditions, or renewed separation.

 

A strong child protection partnership with the government of Ghana
The reintegration project aligns with SOS Children’s Villages in Ghana’s Care Promise, Strategy 2030, and national development priorities. For decades, the organization has worked closely with the Government of Ghana and the Department of Social Welfare, and is officially recognized as a provider of care and protection services. When a child loses parental care, SOS Children’s Villages is often the State’s first point of referral, trusted to act in the child’s best interest.

 

Protecting children, restoring families
At the heart of this work is a clear commitment: every child has the right to protection, family care, and a safe childhood. Reintegration is not simply about returning children home; it is about restoring families responsibly, strengthening protective systems, and ensuring that no child is placed at risk in the process. Every decision is guided by one principle: the best interest of the child, always.

 

SOS Children’s Villages in Ghana works hand in hand with communities, partners, and local authorities to make sure families under pressure are not left to struggle alone. By strengthening local government systems and community structures, families are better able to access essential services like education, healthcare, and economic support. This collaborative approach reflects the spirit of SDG 17, because lasting change happens when everyone works together.

Through the Reintegration Project, families facing difficult situations, especially women, are supported to break the cycle of poverty, in line with SDG 1. Women are guided to form and manage Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA), giving them a safe way to save, borrow, and invest in their families and small businesses. Alongside this, families receive practical training to improve their income, while young people are equipped with vocational and entrepreneurial skills that open doors to jobs, dignity, and self-reliance.

The project also places strong emphasis on healthy lives and quality learning. Families and communities take part in health education on nutrition, family planning, hygiene, and sanitation, contributing to SDG 3 through improved well-being and positive behaviour change. At the same time, children and young people are supported to learn in safe, clean, and inclusive environments, strengthening schools and community systems in line with SDG 4; ensuring every child, regardless of gender, has a fair chance to learn, grow, and thrive.

 

The Reintegration project focuses on three key areas: Case Management, Capacity Building and Advocacy as the main strategy to ensure responsible reintegration of children with their families of origin.

The key strategies that of this project is focused in three areas, namely case management, capacity building and advocacy.

Case Management

In accordance with the UN guidelines and Ghana care reforms Initiatives, children and young people in SOS Children’s Villages are reintegrated into their families and communities. The Ghana care reforms stipulate that in situations where the child is biological family (or family of origin) is identifiable (or traceable), and a return home is deemed possible, appropriate, necessary and in the child’s best interests, targeted steps need to be taken to facilitate and ensure the child’s return to the family.

Accordingly, SOS Children’s Villages in Ghana collaborates with other stakeholders, including the child, his/her biological family and the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) in the processes relating to children reintegration with families of origin. The process of reintegration begins with orientation for children, colleagues, Board members, the children’s identified biological families, and other key stakeholders on the reintegration process. As part of the case management processes, background assessment (including family tracing to identify biological parent/s and/or member/s of extended family; and circumstances necessitating the child’s admission into the SOS family house are documented.

If the outcomes of tracing and assessment points to reintegration to be in the best interests of the child, the child is reunified with his/her family of origin. The project supports parents/caregivers to re-assume their responsibility to cater for their children with periodic follow-ups throughout the project cycle by the case workers together with government social welfare officers.

Capacity Development

Through the project, capacities of various stakeholders (children, young, SOS CV Staff, representatives from government agencies, partners and the communities) are built to ensure sustainable and responsible reintegration of children and young people. Children and young people are sensitized regularly about the real purpose, procedures and relevance of the reintegration project and processes. The economic capacities of families and young people are built to enable them to become self-sufficient. They are provided seed money, and linkage to micro-credit support. The capacities of staff of SOS CV and representatives from government agencies are strengthened in gate keeping and reintegration mechanisms.

Advocacy

Through the project SOS Children’s Villages in Ghana works to ensure the effective implementation of the gatekeeping and reintegrated policies by the government of Ghana, premised on the understanding that government as primary duty bearer has not adequately implemented gatekeeping and reintegration. Implementation of these policies is a function of the level of public resource investment by the government of Ghana and other public institutions that deliver on the rights of the children.

Evidence generated from this project will be used to prepare policy briefs to influence policy makers and practitioners towards establishment and effective implementation of a robust and functional gatekeeping mechanisms. The organization will also lobby government for increased resources to its agencies and ministries to support safe and suitable reintegration of children and young people into their families of origin.

We know the needs of vulnerable children and young people all over the world. What children and young people lack most is attention, respect, and a home. They need someone who likes and supports them unconditionally. These basic needs are essential, and we guarantee them. We support young people with a lot of empathy and the expertise of our organization in children's residential groups. We create individual and sustainable care plans and strengthen their personality. The aim is to empower young people to lead independent lives with respect for themselves and others.