Types of Risk
Children across the globe deal with a variety of challenges. These training manuals can help you to minister more effectively with children, helping them to reach for their full potential.
General
Children at Risk: A Global Overview for 2007 - Adapted by Jennifer Orona, Viva Equip Resources Editor
A one-page summary of many current statistics related to children at risk, this document provides a broad overview of the challenges that many children face across the globe today. It is suitable for all levels of engagement, and links to relevant statistical data are included
The Great Omission: Booklet - J. Patrick McDonald and Dan Brewster.
Most people have heard of the 10/40 window in mission outreach, but have you been conscious of the 4/14 window? The ages when young people across the globe are most open to change? This booklet describes why children should be a priority for society, the Church, and mission. It makes use of illustrations, statistics, and persuasive arguments and is suitable for use by practitioners, pastors, youth leaders, and others. For a more expanded perspective on children as rights-holders, please pair this booklet with Questioning the Basis of Our Work: Christianity, Child Rights and Development by Paul Stephenson and Judith Ennew.
Also available: The Great Omission: Ten-Minute Video
A precise and powerful introductory video that challenges Christian leaders to focus attention on one of the most important people groups: those in the ‘4/14 window,’ the ages during which people are most responsive to the Gospel. To purchase a high-quality version on DVD (GBP10+VAT/USD20), contact ismith@viva.org.
The Viva Report 2007: The State of the World’s Christian Work with Children - Viva International Staff
This report is suitable for all levels of engagement. The Viva Report 2007 provides a broad overview of work with children around the world, including statistics, examples, and overviews of issues for a variety of countries and continents. It can also be used to begin looking for responses, networks, contacts, the impact of Viva’s work, and ways to get involved.
State of the World’s Children 2006: Excluded and Invisible - UNICEF
UNICEF’s annual report for 2006 focuses on children who are excluded and invisible due to ethnicity, gender, birth registration, social class, and a host of other issues. Find out about statistics and situations in specific countries through helpful charts, graphs and more.
Children in Emergency Situations
Coming Soon!
Children Living on the Streets
Hope and a Future: Empowering Street Children and Their Communities to Rebuild Their Lives - Sarah O’Connor
This manual outlines a very practical approach to working with children living on the streets through its focus on holistic, family-based, non-residential interventions. The manual, based on the work of Child Restoration Outreach Uganda and a companion manual to “Voice in the Streets” by Marion Derbyshire, considers how to empower street children, their families, and their communities, so that children living on the streets can be successfully re-integrated with their families. It considers every stage of working with street children – from project foundations, to design, implementation, and monitoring, and is suitable for use by practitioners, pastors, youth leaders, staff, project managers, and advocates.
Voice in the Streets: A Handbook for Multi-Stage Ministry to Street Children - Marion Derbyshire
A practical handbook for multi-stage ministry to street children, this manual examines the ministry of Youth With a Mission (YWAM) in Bogotá, Colombia . It then discusses the general principles behind each stage of ministry to street children, from drop-in centres and transitional stages, to education, long-term residential strategies, and reintegration into society. This resource can be regularly used and referred to by practitioners, project managers, advocates, undergraduate students, grassroots trainers, and all who work with street children.
Children and Family Breakdown
Children at Risk Guidelines Volume 1: Children and Family Breakdown - Tearfund
Part of Tearfund’s Children at Risk Guidelines series by Glenn Miles and Paul Stephenson, this training manual provides insights into why families break down and how this affects children. Suitable for all levels.
Children, War and Armed Conflict
Children at Risk Guidelines Volume 6: Children in Conflict and War - Tearfund
This is another training manual in Tearfund’s Children at Risk Guidelines series by Glenn Miles and Paul Stephenson. It includes key principles for working with children, along with helpful case studies about ministries in various parts of the world that work directly with children who have experienced situations of conflict and war. Suitable for all levels.
Children in Residential Care
Friends in Need: A Handbook for the Care of Orphans in the Community - Marion and Les Derbyshire
Based on several ministries in Zimbabwe that provide Community-Based Orphan Care (CBOC) for children who have been affected by HIV and AIDS, this manual discusses specific examples and issues in the context of Zimbabwe, and it also provides general suggestions for spiritual and motivational factors, the ‘triple A’ approach (the cycle of Assessing and Analysing their Actions), key steps in starting a ministry, administrative issues, advocacy, networking, and evaluation. It is suitable for use by practitioners, researchers, and project managers.
In the Image of God: An Overview of the Needs, Strategies, and Trends in Orphan Care - Rachel Smith
As the title suggests, In the Image of God: An Overview of the Needs, Strategies, and Trends in Orphan Care provides an overview of many of the current issues involved in providing care for unaccompanied children. The report discusses the ‘spectrum of care’ and family, small-group, and fostering models of care rather than institutional care alone. Smith closes with a helpful application section and a series of informative appendices.
Children at Risk Guidelines Volume 5: Children in Residential Care and Alternatives - Tearfund
Another training manual in Tearfund’s Children at Risk Guidelines series by Glenn Miles and Paul Stephenson, Children in Residential Care and Alternatives discusses the spectrum of care, key principles in working with children, and a variety of case studies. Suitable for all levels.
Children with Disabilities
Children at Risk Guidelines Volume 3: Children with Disabilities - Tearfund
Tearfund’s third manual in the Children at Risk Guidelines series by Glenn Miles and Paul Stephenson is called Children with Disabilities. It gives practical insights and principles on helpful ways to work with children with disabilities. It also includes case studies and reflection questions. Suitable for all levels.
Coming Soon from The Hesperian Foundation - Helping Children Who Are Blind, and, Helping Children Who Are Deaf. The Hesperian Foundation
Children, Trafficking and Exploitation
Body, Mind and Soul: A Handbook for Christian Ministry to Commercially Sexually Exploited Children and Young People - Marion and Les Derbyshire
This Handbook for Ministry to Commercially Sexually Exploited Children and Young People speaks of spiritual principles, program development, staff training, self-care, administration, and more, using the examples of Rahab Ministries in Thailand, ESCAPE in Sri Lanka, and House of Hope in Cambodia. It is suitable for use by practitioners, project managers, and advocates.
Children at Risk Guidelines Volume 4: Children and Sexual Abuse and Exploitation - Tearfund
Glenn Miles and Paul Stephenson collaborate once again to produce Children and Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, the fourth training manual in the Children at Risk Guidelines series. With a thought-provoking discussion of the causes and effects of sexual abuse and exploitation, along with key principles for working with children and a series of case studies, this manual can be used by those who work directly with children and by those who wish to learn more.
Girl Children
State of the World’s Children 2007: Women and Children: The Double Dividend of Gender Equality - UNICEF
UNICEF’s annual report for 2007 focuses on gender discrimination and girl child issues around the world. Statistics, charts, graphs, and more are included, along with discussions and examples from a variety of regions around a number of different topics. Suitable for project managers, undergraduate and graduate students, administrators, and decision makers.
Because I am a Girl: The State of the World’s Girls 2007 [also available in French and Spanish] - Plan UK
Because I am a Girl: The State of the World’s Girls 2008: In the Shadow of War - Plan UK
Plan UK’s Because I am a Girl reports look at issues of gender discrimination, risks that girls face, and many of the specific challenges that girls around the world face simply because of their gender. They cite a number of reports and articles with helpful statistics and information. Suitable for project managers, undergraduate and graduate students, administrators, and decision makers.
Children and Health
Children at Risk Guidelines Volume 2: Community Child Health - Tearfund
Another training manual in Tearfund’s Children at Risk Guidelines series by Glenn Miles and Paul Stephenson, Community Child Health discusses more than physical health, it looks at psychological and spiritual health as well. Key principles and case studies are also featured in this manual, which is suitable for all levels.
State of the World’s Children 2008: Child Survival - UNICEF
Child Survival is the topic of UNICEF’s annual report for 2008. Statistics, charts, graphs, and more are included, along with discussions and examples from a variety of regions around a number of different topics. Suitable for project managers, undergraduate and graduate students, administrators, and decision makers.
Children and HIV and AIDS
HIV and AIDS: Taking Action - Tearfund
Responding More Effectively to HIV and AIDS - Tearfund
Publications from Tearfund’s ROOTS and PILLARS series, these training manuals provide practical tools and key principles for working with children affected by HIV and AIDS. They provide a biblically-based framework for ministry within the community. HIV and AIDS: Taking Action is designed for organizations while Responding More Effectively to HIV and AIDS is designed for communities.