Families Are Stronger Together (FAST) - FY16Q4 Quarterly Report

The program aims to strengthen the care system for children and families through a coordinated government response, skilled social workforce, and educated and engaged families and communities. The program's objective is to address four main themes: Government Systems, Direct Response, Prevention of Child-Family Separation, and Transformation. The program began on September 29th, 2015, and ended on April 30th, 2018, with a total budget of 4,757,870 USD. The program was implemented in Phnom Penh, Battambang, Siem Reap, Kandal, and Preah Sihanouk, with a focus on strengthening the social service workforce, improving the effectiveness of social services, and promoting accessibility of family-based care options. Save the Children worked with a consortium of implementing partners, including First Step Cambodia, Holt International, Mother's Heart, Cambodian Children's Trust, Children in Families, Friends International, Hagar International, M'Lup Russey, and IOM. The program's progress was monitored through regular meetings and workshops, with a focus on building the capacity of partner organizations and engaging with the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans, and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY). The program's activities included member engagement, partner capacity building, and engagement with MoSVY. The member engagement activities included proposal development and approval, with a focus on ensuring that all partners were aligned with the program's objectives. The partner capacity building activities included training on USAID rules and regulations, child safeguarding, fraud and corruption, and effort reporting. The engagement with MoSVY included technical assistance to the Director of the Child Welfare Department, Mr. xxx, and his team, as well as support for the functional analysis of the Child Welfare Department. The program's progress was also monitored through regular meetings with MoSVY officials, including a meeting with the Minister of MoSVY on September 15th. The program's activities were supported by a team of technical assistance experts, including a FAST Child Protection Specialist and a TA to MoSVY. The program's impact was evaluated through regular monitoring and evaluation activities, with a focus on measuring the program's progress towards its objectives. The program's achievements included the approval of proposals for seven actions, including social work standards and training needs assessment, alternative care panel, case management system, holistic family preservation model, assessment of RCI capacity, influencing existing funding, and investing in innovation. The program also conducted training on USAID rules and regulations, child safeguarding, fraud and corruption, and effort reporting, with a focus on building the capacity of partner organizations. The program's engagement with MoSVY included technical assistance to the Director of the Child Welfare Department, Mr. xxx, and his team, as well as support for the functional analysis of the Child Welfare Department. Overall, the Families Are Stronger Together (FAST) program made significant progress towards its objectives, with a focus on strengthening the care system for children and families in Cambodia. The program's activities were supported by a team of technical assistance experts, and its impact was evaluated through regular monitoring and evaluation activities.