National Psychosocial Support Guidelines for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Kenya

The Ministry of Labour, Social Security, and Services through the Department of Children Services commissioned an analysis that assessed the provision of Psychosocial Support (PSS) services in Kenya in 2013. Psychosocial support is a continuum of love, care, and protection that enhances the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social wellbeing of an individual and strengthens their social cultural connectedness and resilience. The National Psychosocial Support (NPSS) Guidelines for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) were created to address areas of improvement identified during the implementation of Minimum Service Standard for Quality Improvement of OVC Programmes. The objectives of the guidelines are to streamline and operationalize PSS service provision for OVC in Kenya, promote evidence based practices in PSS service provision, increase networking and connections between PSS service providers, and strengthen the capacity of family and community services to provide PSS to children at the family and community level. The guidelines have also identified important actions with suggested activities at the child, caregivers, and community levels.