Background

Violence, war, poverty and disease have left millions of children around the world without one or both of their parents. Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) are often unable to provide for their own needs, which include security, food, clothing, healthcare and education. Faced with the challenge of meeting such needs, OVC become vulnerable to exploitation or may become targets of violence themselves. Some are recruited into armed groups engaged in conflict. Others find themselves in dangerous, unregulated workplaces or in situations that leave them vulnerable to trafficking, abuse, exploitation and disease. Some OVC are arrested by police and enter criminal justice systems with limited or no access to legal representation, due process or oversight to assure that the best interests of the child are being met.

Heartland Alliance's Programs

In the United States, Heartland Alliance provides a variety of services for OVC in many different situations. Residential programs offer alternatives to detention for unaccompanied immigrant minors and homeless teens. Immigrant legal services represent children who face abuse, neglect or danger at home.  Refugee children and their families obtain mental health services through International Family, Adult and Child Enhancement Services (FACES) provides mental health resources for refugees and asylum seekers who have experienced trauma.

Internationally, Heartland Alliance implements a range of projects that address the specific needs of OVC in post-conflict countries through a focus on medical, psychosocial, vocational, education, and legal services.  Training, capacity building, and collaboration with government ministries and local organizations also helps support the needs of OVC in program areas.

International Programs Specific

Heartland Alliance is implementing the following projects assisting OVC:

• Social reintegration for female former child soldiers in Burundi, including a rehabilitation center that offers mental, medical, vocational and legal services;
• Vocational training at a residential rehabilitation center for former child soldiers in Sri Lanka;
• Improving protections and expanding legal services for minors in juvenile detention facilities and reformatories in Iraq;
• Enhancing educational, psychosocial and mental health services for child victims of war trauma, through a center for the rehabilitation of victims of violence, and a psychosocial teacher training program in Iraq;
• Educational services in Afghanistan that provide youth with education in human rights, health, and the political process to increase employment and social engagement.