On May 29-30, 2019, the OVC Task Force hosted a conference to highlight the contributions of OVC programs to the global 95-95-95 targets. By mobilizing and engaging both health and social welfare systems, OVC programs have been pivotal to the success of HIV testing and treatment outcomes through enhancing community-clinic linkages, addressing the structural drivers of the epidemic, and preventing and responding to violence against children. OVC programs have assisted millions of households to prevent HIV infection and mitigate the impact of HIV. In addition to reflecting on the contribution of OVC programs, the conference highlighted new priorities, best practices from current programs and discussion of challenges and opportunities to find, link, and retain children living with HIV. Session presentations can be found through clicking on the session titles below.
Keynote Address, Ambassador Deborah L. Birx, M.D.
A Focused Response to Children and Adolescents in an Evolving Pandemic
OVC Programming Successes
Representatives from the donor, host country government, international aid communities, and a DREAMS Ambassador, shared in a panel discussion on the impact that OVC programs have made on preventing HIV and contributing to global 95-95-95 HIV targets.
Evolving the OVC Response–Focus on Targeting
A Focused Response to Children and Adolescents in an Evolving Pandemic: Targeting
Gretchen Bachman, Acting Senior Advisor, OVC for Office of HIV/AIDS at USAID and the State Department’s Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator
Development and Adaptation of an Identification and Prioritization Tool for OVC Programs
Molly Cannon, Director, Measurement and Evaluation, Palladium
Dr. Diana Chamrad, Improvement Director, University Research Co.
The “OVC Advocacy Tool”
Dr. Emilia (Molly) Rivadeneira, Lead, Pediatric and Adolescent HIV Team, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Innovations in Case Management
Picture Impact Journals
Dorcas, Amolo, Chief of Party, CRS Kenya
Establishing a Digital OVC Case Management System in the DRC
Suzanne Reier, Technical Advisor, Education Development Center DRC
Closed User Group Model
Neckvilleus Kamwesigye, Case Management Sector Head, World Education/Bantwana Uganda
Development of Strengths-Based, Resilience-Focused OVC Case Management Approach
Janet du Preez, Senior Associate, Maestral, South Africa
Preventing Violence and HIV
A Social Ecological Approach to Preventing Violence Against Children
Community-Level Approaches to Preventing Violence Against Children
Dr. Janet Saul, Senior Gender Advisor, Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator; Behavioral Scientist, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Coaching Boys Into Men: Preventing Violence in Uganda
Rita Laura Lulua, Chief of Party, World Vision Uganda
4Children Lesotho’s Experience with Parenting for Lifelong Health Teen
Molarisi Mehale, Chief of Party, CRS Lesotho
Find, Link and Retain
OVC Program’s Contributions to the HIV Pediatric Cascade
Dr. Rickie Malaba, Health Advisor, World Education/Bantwana Zimbabwe
Reaching 95-95-95: Successful OVC Program Experience from 4Children Lesotho
Molarisi Mehale, Chief of Party, CRS Lesotho
A Clinical Perspective on Collaboration between Clinical and OVC Platforms
Jennifer Macias, Senior Regional Director, EGPAF
Zvandiri
Phyllis Mavushe, Zvandiri Mentor, Africaid Zimbabwe
SMART CONNECTIONS: Social Media to Improve ART Retention and Treatment Outcomes Among Youth Living with HIV in Nigeria
Dr. Lisa Dulli, Scientist II, FHI 360
Transitioning to Local Primes
USAID shared its vision for localization followed by international and local NGOs reflecting in a panel discussion on the lessons learned across key phases of capacity development, including “post-transition” experience and support.
The PEPFAR Local Partner Transition: Reaching 70% by 2020
Deborah Kaliel, Branch Chief for Capacity Building and Partnerships in the Office of HIV/AIDS, USAID
Supporting Graduation and Sustainable Outcomes
Supporting Graduation and Sustainable Outcomes
Assessing the PEPFAR Global OVC Graduation Benchmarks
Dr. Lisa Parker, Senior Technical Advisor, Palladium
MWENDO Case Management Approach Piloting of Case Management Benchmarks
Dorcas Amolo, Chief of Party, CRS Kenya
Results from 4Children’s Nigeria and Kenya Tracer Studies
Meg Langley, Technical Advisor, CRS
Adaptations in the USAID Comprehensive Responses for Vulnerable Children and their Families Activity Using the Graduation Study Results
Rita Larok, Chief of Party AVSI Foundation Uganda
What is the Role of Economic Strengthening in OVC Program Sustainability?
Whitney Moret, Technical Director FHI 360
Measuring Progress: Collecting and Using OVC Data
Measuring Progress: Collecting and Using OVC Data
Dr. Joshua Volle, Senior OVC Evaluation Advisor, Office of HIV/AIDS at USAID
An Evolving Approach: Ensuring that the Most Vulnerable Youth are Linked to HIV Testing Services
Jenny Mwanza, Senior Technical Advisor, Palladium
USAID Caring for Vulnerable Children’s (CVC) Activity
Dr. Kesetebirhan Delele Yirdaw, HIV/AIDS and Health Technical Director, FHI 360 Ethiopia
Measuring Outcomes for Vulnerable Children: A Global Snapshot
Dr. Lisa Parker, Senior Technical Advisor, Palladium
PEPFAR Chiefs of Party Panel
Chiefs of Party for large OVC grants reflected on what they learned in the conference and discussed practical and aspirational visions for the OVC community’s next steps.
Overview of OVC projects represented in the panel