Working Groups
Working Group Participants were divided into four Working Groups, comprised of a Chair and eight to twelve individuals. Each working group was asked to address one of the following subjects:
1. Family Preservation and Reunification
2. Interim Care Alternatives and Foster Care
3. Permanency - Guardianship, Domestic and International Adoption
4. Legal and Government Infrastructure
Each of the four Working Groups was asked to consider how African and other international leaders could work together to ensure that the full continuum of family-based care is available to children in Africa who are without parental care. In addition, these groups were asked to reflect on ways to develop the broad range of partnerships (government, private and faith- and community-based organizations) necessary to support delivery of a full continuum of family-based care in Africa.
Working Group participants are leading African, U.S., and international child welfare policy experts, practitioners, and researchers. Click here to view a list of the Working Group participants and their biographies.
First Working Group Convening
The Working Groups first convened in Washington, D.C. on February 9-11th, 2011 to begin work on their findings and reports. The Working Groups then communicated regularly to continue progress toward these findings and reports.
Second Working Group Convening
The Working Groups reconvened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on May 24-27, 2011 to continue their work. Their findings and reports will be released at The Way Forward Project’s final policy summit.