Introduction: Millions of children worldwide remain in long-term residential care despite global evidence that family care promotes optimal development. While policy and research advocate for deinstitutionalization, little is known about practical strategies residential programs require to transition to family care models, particularly in resource-constrained, high-risk contexts. Supporting locally tailored solutions is critical, as effective care reform must align with cultural, social, and community realities.


Purpose: This study explored whether an integrated approach combining microgrants, individualized coaching, and peer learning cohorts could catalyze progress toward family care, strengthen capacity, and maintain child well-being across international contexts.


Method: Five residential care organizations from East Africa, West Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America participated in a one-year microgrant and learning cohort program. Organizations received $10,000-$20,000 microgrants, completed an eight-week foundational care transition course, and participated in monthly coaching sessions and cohort meetings. Data were collected via documentation, case files, stakeholder reports, and program evaluations to track reintegration, foster care preparation, family strengthening, staff training, and stakeholder engagement.


Results: All five organizations demonstrated measurable progress in transitioning children into family care. Across projects, 74 children were moved to family care, 111 families were supported, and 292 staff and community stakeholders were trained in alternative care approaches. Success was facilitated by leadership buy-in, collaboration, community mobilization, and culturally informed strategies. Challenges included political instability, resource constraints, and conflict-related disruptions, which required adaptive strategies. Targeted microgrants, structured coaching, and peer learning enabled organizations to navigate obstacles, replicate promising practices, and maintain a child-centered focus.


Conclusions: Findings indicate that an integrated microgrant learning cohort can create conditions conducive to sustainable care reform, improving readiness, collaboration, and child and family outcomes. This scalable model demonstrates how modest financial investments combined with structured peer learning and coaching can catalyze transitions from residential to family care globally, even in complex, resource-limited contexts.