Highly Vulnerable Children: Causes, Consequences and Actions. The U.S. Government Special Advisor for Orphans and Vulnerable Children First Annual Report to Congress, August 2007

摘要

The objective of United States Government (USG) assistance to highly vulnerable children in developing countries is to open up opportunities for them to lead healthy, productive lives. Addressing their urgent humanitarian needs a necessary first response will not in itself improve their long-term prospects or prevent increases in the number of highly vulnerable children in the future. For this reason, USG assistance addresses immediate consequences of vulnerability through direct service delivery. It addresses causes of vulnerability through activities that employ diplomacy and policy and expand our knowledge through research, demonstration, and information dissemination. Finally, it addresses the ability of families, communities, and governments to care for their children and improve their future wellbeing through capacity building and through integration of programs for highly vulnerable children with other development programs. The USG strategy recognizes that broad-based development programs that increase community growth and resilience are critical for a longer-term, sustainable response, because they help to create an environment in which families and communities can care for the most vulnerable and reduce future vulnerability. This first annual report on USG implementation of PL 109-95 describes the significant range of activities conducted by various USG agencies to protect and support children made vulnerable by a variety of causes.