PICASO is a collaborative effort of international and local partners, including faith-based organizations (FBOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) in a three-tier approach that builds on experience and expertise to reach the community and family with a coordinated package of quality services for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) affected by HIV and AIDS. All PICASO partners have extensive experience working with local communities and structures and work to mobilize communities, identify the most vulnerable children and draw on community assets to respond to the needs of OVC and their families. This program acts as a flagship in the promotion and implementation of Ethiopia’s standards of care for OVC.

 

PICASO operates in the urban areas of Addis Ababa, Oromia, Amhara, SNNPR and Gambella. The project utilizes a specialized approach in the under-served localities of Jinka, SNNPR and urban Gambella where HIV prevalence is particularly high. Care in the community is achieved through a child-centered, family-supported approach that strategically places economic strengthening at the core and is best illustrated as 1 + 6 (economic strengthening + six other essential services: psycho-social support, food and nutrition, education, health, protection, and shelter and care). In addition to a strong family income-generation component, over 4,000 volunteer caregivers receive training in a host of OVC service areas. Volunteers visit each household on a weekly basis to provide child-centered, family-supported care that includes ongoing monitoring of children’s well-being as well as follow-up assistance for referrals. The program’s goal is to support organizations and train volunteers to scale up their support to an additional 60,000 children.

 

Staff Contacts

 

	Leslie Mitchell Country Representative Addis Ababa, Ethiopia leslie@pactet.org
	Kimberly McClain Program Officer Washington, DC kmcclain@pacthq.org