Webinar | Adapting Child Protection Case Management to the COVID-19 Context
Channel: The Alliance
Date: 2020-04-29

In this episode, Zeinab and the Case Management Task Force hosts a discussion on adapting child protection case management in the context of COVID-19. The webinar begins with front-line field examples from Lebanon, South Sudan, and Bangladesh, where Rita, Thomas, and Maya share their adaptations to CP case management with a question and answer period. The second half of the webinar gives a detailed overview of the Technical Note on Case Management, followed by question and answer period.


List of Speakers:
Audrey Bollier from The Alliance
Zeinab Hijazi from the Case Management Task Force and UNICEF
Rita Kevorkian from UNHCR
Thomas Fedu from the International Rescue Committee
Maya Boulos from Terre des hommes
Colleen Fitzgerald from the International Rescue Committee
Caroline Veldhuizen from Save the Children


Main Points:
0:10 Audrey begins the webinar with an overview of The Alliance’s Technical Note on child protection and COVID-19.
2:17 Zeinab gives an overview of the webinar and the Case Management Task Force.
4:26 Rita beings her presentation by giving some background to the pre-COVID-19 context in Lebanon.
6:34 Rita shares the child protection risks that have been exacerbated by COVID-19, including the closure of essential services and increased violence against children in the home.
8:29 Rita discusses the adaptations made the case management, including remote case management through WhatsApp and the expansions of hotlines This concludes Rita’s presentation.
15:28 Thomas begins his presentation by giving on overview of the COVID-19 context in South Sudan.
18:24 Thomas discusses the measures taken to support case management, including coordinating the child protection sub-cluster to respond to child protection risks.
21:25 Thomas shares the adaptations made to child protections case management, including identifying high-risk cases and engaging is message dissemination use a megaphone. This concludes Thomas’s presentation.
24:47 Maya beings her presentation by giving an overview of Cox’s Bazar refugee camp in Bangladesh and shares the child protection risks, including increased exposure to violence in the home, child marriage, and child labour.
29:04 Maya shares the key challenges faced in responding to COVID-19, including the telecommunication ban and movement/field-access restrictions.
30:34 Maya discusses the key adaptions strategies used to address these challenges, including face-to-face visits for high-risk cases and community-based case management from volunteers. This concludes Maya’s presentation. 
32:22 Zeinab begins the Q&A session.
32:38 Q1: What are some specific considerations for child protection case management for refugee and asylum seeking children during the COVID-19 pandemic?
39:06 Q2: With remote case management, do you record the interviews for accountability purposes and how can we address the issue of consent in remote assessments?
41:52 Q3: How do you build trust with survivors of violence as we work remotely? How do survivor’s disclosure easily to case workers?
42:48 Q4: How are you engaging volunteers and communities in the community-based mechanism given the current COVID-19 context?
43:51 Q5: How do you identify new cases during COVID-19 and how do make your assessment? Is it hard through the phone or is there any good practice from your context for conducting assessment over the phone?
46:12 Colleen begins her presentation by introducing the case management guidance note and its creation.
49:03 Colleen discusses the some of the core components of the case management guidance note, including reviewing case management responses and strengthening the child protection system as a vital part of the COVID-19 response.
57:23 Caroline discusses further some of the core components of the case management guidance note, including a focus on staff well-being and providing financial resources. This concludes the Case Management Task Force presentation. 
1:02:11 Zeinab begins the Q&A session.
1:02:48 Q1: Any guidance or advice on standard operating procedures on carrying out a 'best interest determination' panel review remotely?
1:04:25 Q2: How does the guidance address child protection cases for those with intellectual and communication disabilities?
1:05:47 Q3: Any guidance on how to maintain confidentiality and how to adapt data protection protocols for remote case management with COVID-19 restrictions in place?
1:11:27 Zeinab shares next steps for case management in times of COVID-19 for continuing conversations and further adapting and developing guidance.
1:12:32 Zeinab gives closing remarks and concludes the webinar.


Important Links:
Case Management Task Force Website: https://alliancecpha.org/en/child-protection-hub/case-management-task-force
Technical Note: Adaptations of Child Protection Case Management to the COVID-19 Pandemic: https://www.alliancecpha.org/en/child-protection-online-library/technical-note-adaptation-child-protection-case-management-covid-19