A Powerful Shift in Survivor Protection in the Philippines
“This is a big deal, Ashlee… you have unleashed a very powerful force which will reshape child protection in the country.”
- Teodulo “Kuya Ted” Romo, IJM Expert Advisor & Former Head of Aftercare, IJM Manila
Kuya Ted’s closing remarks at the recent Framework for Family Engagement (FFE) training in Manila, led by Global Child Advocates (GCA) Director, Ashlee Heiligman, were a powerful affirmation of the work God is leading GCA to expand.
His words marked more than the end of a workshop; he marked the beginning of a transformational movement for children rescued from Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) in the Philippines.
The Framework for Family Engagement
For decades, aftercare shelters have been considered the “safest” response for child survivors of abuse, trafficking, and exploitation. But overwhelming research shows that children heal in relationships, not systems. Beyond the research, key informants are survivor leaders and the learnings from young adults who grew up in care.
Kinship care is widely recognized as the best first option for children who cannot remain with their parents, yet many agencies lack the tools and processes to effectively engage families, causing this vital resource to go untapped.
This is why GCA developed the FFE to equip frontline teams to explore a child’s network of safe relatives and trusted adults, to evaluate relational dynamics for safety and to cultivate healthy bonds, and to empower family members to provide protective permanency for children. FFE is a practitioner’s guide that restores children to safety, belonging, and healing, honoring both evidence-based practice and God’s design of family.
Unprecedented Unity
What makes this moment extraordinary is not only the introduction of FFE in the Philippines - it is the unprecedented unity and enthusiasm from national leaders to adopt family-based care early and at scale.
International Justice Mission Philippines, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the National Authority for Child Care (NACC), and the Philippines Survivor Network are fully aligned and eager to embed FFE into national protocols. This level of early buy-in signals a God-orchestrated shift, one that places children back where they heal best: within safe family and meaningful relationships.
Trailblazing Partnerships
In a truly collaborative effort, Austin Ridge Bible Church (ARBC) generously funded the hiring of a new Family Engagement Specialist (FES) role within IJM to pilot GCA’s Framework for Family Engagement (FFE) in the Philippines.
GCA designed the FES role, IJM embedded it into their aftercare strategy, and ARBC made the position possible through their generous support.
We knew this role needed the right leader to carry it forward. God answered abundantly through Jessa Lazarte, who has not only fulfilled the role, she has helped define what “excellent family engagement” can look like for the entire sector.
And because IJM carries strong trust and credibility with DSWD, LGUs, and NACC, the impact has multiplied quickly. In just one year:
Children who once would have remained in shelters have been placed with safe family members
Caseworkers across regions are applying FFE tools with confidence
Government agencies are adopting the model, far earlier and faster than expected
This is remarkable. It signals a national shift in how the Philippines will care for survivors of OSAEC; a shift which honors a child’s dignity and recognizes that healing happens in relationships, especially those that matter most to the child.
The Movement is Growing
In April 2026, Ashlee Heiligman, GCA’s Director will return to the Philippines to lead the first Training of Trainers (TOT) for FFE in partnership with IJM, equipping selected key leaders from Local Government Units (LGU’s) across the Philippines, DSWD, and NACC to scale this model nationwide.
Our hope is that this same momentum:
inspires other government leaders to reimagine child protection and aftercare
opens doors for FFE expansion through government partnerships and regional TOTs in East Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America
Truly God deserves all the glory for this movement. And this is only the beginning of what we believe He will multiply across the Philippines and beyond.
Thank you to GCA Supporters and Partners
Your generosity and faithfulness are sowing into a movement that is changing the narrative for children around the world. We are truly grateful for your trust, prayers, and partnership!
If you’re new to GCA, you can join the movement!
Your support can help create lasting safety and hope-filled futures for children.
For those Serving Children in Care
If your organization, church, or government agency works with children in residential care and would like to learn practical tools to engage families and restore children to safe, loving homes, we’d love to hear from you. Use the form below to express interest in FFE training or future TOT opportunities.
