In 2005, the U.S. Congress recognized the importance of a whole-of-government response to the world’s most vulnerable children when it passed Public Law 109-95: The Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act. This Act requires an interagency strategy to promote a comprehensive, coordinated, and effective U.S. government (USG) response to the urgent needs of the world’s most vulnerable children. In June 2019, USG partners launched Advancing Protection and Care for Children in Adversity: A U.S. Government Strategy for International Assistance (2019–2023), or APCCA Strategy, which outlines the USG’s approach to investing in the development, care, dignity, and safety of the world’s most vulnerable children and their families. USG partners involved in implementing the APCCA Strategy include the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor (DOL), State (DOS); the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); and the Peace Corps.
This report highlights collaboration among USG interagency partners, as well as progress and achievements in fiscal year (FY) 2020 on the APCCA Strategy’s three strategic objectives and guiding principles. Most programs target multiple needs and support the realization of all objectives yet highlights are reported by objective in this report. This report also features progress made on several cross-cutting areas identified in the Implementation Plan for the APCCA Strategy: increasing knowledge, capacity, and policies on child safeguarding and protection; investing in strategies to support the social-service workforce; and promoting positive parenting and family-strengthening programs. Appendix A provides more detailed achievements by department and agency.
The newly enacted Global Child Thrive Act, effective January 2021, also calls for the USG to report on efforts to advance early childhood development (ECD) internationally. Highlights from activities in line with the Global Child Thrive Act are described in the section on Objective One: “Build Strong Beginnings.”
Despite the enormous challenges for ongoing programs presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, USG foreign assistance continued to promote healthy development within safe and protective families in 108 countries in FY 2020 by:
- Providing 27,756,461 children with services such as family tracing and reunification or other child development, protection, safety, and well-being services;
- Providing 1,797,650 parents or caregivers with services such as psychosocial support and training in positive parenting practices;
- Training 400,527 service providers to deliver high-quality services to vulnerable children and their families; and
- Strengthening the capacity of 922 governmental and nongovernmental organizations to provide services and support to children and their families.
See Appendix B for detailed data on the services and support provided to children and their families in FY 2020.
