After Care is the provision of care for all children, including children with special needs, after they have reached the age of 18 years, and are discharged from Children’s Homes/Special Homes. Children who have completed 18 years may be referred to as “young adults”. It is to help prepare these young adults to sustain themselves during the transition from institutional to independent life.
The State Government is mandated by the Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children)Act, 2000 vide Sec 44 to set up an after care programme for care of juveniles or children after they leave special homes and children's homes to facilitate their transition from an institution-based life to mainstream society.
JJ Act 2015 mentions Aftercare in Section 46. Aftercare has also been defined under this Act.
Children going to complete 18 years of age in the Children’s/Special Home, without any family fit to take care of them and who is willing to undertake the training in After Care will be considered for After Care programme.
Duration of Aftercare
After care services may be available to young adults up to a period of 3 years or until he/she has reached the age of 21 years, whichever is earlier.
Financial norms
Financial assistance per month per young adult will be provided as per ICPS norms applicable at that time for meeting the basic needs including food, clothing, health care and shelter; age appropriate and need based education and vocational training and any other requirements
The DCPU shall form a committee comprising of the DSWO (Chairman) DCPO (Member- Convener), PO-IC and PO-NIC, and a member of the CWC, which will identify suitable Government and voluntary organizations to run the After Care programme. The list of identified organizations will be placed before the Chairman DCPU for approval through the Secretary DCPU. This list will thereafter be made available to the CWC/JJB.
After Care Approval Committee isto be formed in every district to implement and monitor the After Care programme and would consist of the following members:
Criteria for selection of Aftercare Organization
The organization should be preferably run by the State Government but may also be run by reputed NGOs
Identification and recommendation for After Care by Child Care Institution (CCI):
i) Preparation of young adult by CCI
ii) Release of Young Adults who are unwilling to join After Care
iii) Scrutiny of Documents by DCPU and Finalisation for After Care Placement
iv)Placement order by CWC/JJB
V)Placement of young adult
i)Release of Grant
ii)Preparation of Care Plan for the Child by the After Care Organization
MONITORING ANDREVIEW:
i) Tracking progress of child
ii) Monitoring of After Care Organization
iii) Records to be maintained by DCPU
Termination of Aftercare
Aftercare services will be terminated:
Option I: The DCPU will identify an existing Children’s Home which is run by the Government / NGO, where a portion will be earmarked for After Care having separate building with other facilities to avoid interaction with the children in Children’s Home.
Option II: Dedicated institutions for After Care with maximum capacity of 100 children can be considered in case it is available in strategic locations as decided by the DCD &DWD&SW, Government of West Bengal
Facilities to be provided by Aftercare organizations
Sl. No | Name of the Home | GO/NGO | Boys/Girls |
---|---|---|---|
1. | SUMANGALAM | GO | Boys |
2. | SHILAYAN | GO | Girls |
3. | VIDYASAGAR BALIKA BHAVAN (VBB) | GO | Girls |
4. | UTTARPARA FEMALE DESTITUTE HOME(UFDH) | GO | Girls |
5. | ANANDA MATH | GO | Girls |
6. | SUKANYA | GO | Girls |
7. | SMM HOME | GO | Girls |
8. | ALLBENGAL WOMEN’S UNION (ABWU) | NGO | Girls |
9. | CHIRANABIN | NGO | Girls |