The G. Barrie Landry Child Protection Professional Training Program (Landry CP Training), hosted by the FXB Center for Health & Human Rights at Harvard University, is a prestigious, intensive, week-long program designed for mid-career professionals working in the field of child protection. The program equips participants with advanced knowledge, practical skills, and leadership competencies to develop, implement, and strengthen effective child protection systems in their respective countries.

This initiative reflects Harvard’s commitment to advancing human rights, public health, and multi-sectoral approaches to addressing complex social challenges. By combining academic rigor with hands-on application, the program fosters an environment in which participants can translate theoretical insights into tangible policy and programmatic solutions.

Program Overview

• Duration: One week (full-time intensive)
• Location: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
• Program Dates: Week of June 1, 2026
• Cohort Size: Limited to 30 participants (10 country teams of three members each)
• Tuition: Fully covered through the generosity of the G. Barrie Landry Fund for Child Protection Professional Training and UNICEF USA
• Travel & Accommodation: Participants are responsible for their travel and lodging arrangements, including visa and related documentation

The Landry CP Training is designed to prepare participants to address the most pressing child protection challenges in diverse settings, from humanitarian crises to structural social inequalities.

Objectives and Learning Outcomes

The program aims to strengthen participants’ capacities in the following areas:

1. Understanding the Impact of Violence and Exploitation
   Participants explore the multifaceted effects of abuse, neglect, and exploitation on children’s emotional, social, and cognitive development, including the consequences of conflict, displacement, and natural disasters.
2. Multidisciplinary Analytical Approaches
   The training emphasizes evidence-based frameworks and international legal standards for child protection. Participants learn to integrate public health, social services, justice, and educational perspectives into a cohesive protection system.
3. System Design and Implementation
   Fellows gain insight into the structural components of well-functioning child protection systems, including workforce capacity, case management, policy development, and service delivery mechanisms.
4. Data-Driven Advocacy and Digital Solutions
   Participants are trained to leverage data, research, and digital tools for evidence-based advocacy, program evaluation, and system improvement.
5. Leadership and Coalition-Building
   The program fosters skills in negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and policy reform, enabling participants to influence child protection initiatives across government, civil society, and international organizations.
6. Country-Specific Application
   Each team develops actionable solutions to real-world child protection challenges in their home country, enhancing national strategies and plans for systemic improvement.

Target Participants

The Landry CP Training is intended for mid-career professionals who are actively engaged in child protection work and demonstrate a commitment to multi-sectoral leadership.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Applications must be submitted by country teams consisting of three members:
  • One representative from a government agency
  • One representative from an international organization
  • One representative from a local NGO
• Individual applications are not considered.
• Fluency in English (both written and spoken) is required.
• Participants should demonstrate the capacity to apply program insights to enhance child protection policies, programs, and advocacy in their home country.

Curriculum Highlights

The training combines lectures, case-based learning, workshops, and mentorship to ensure participants gain both conceptual understanding and practical skills. Core thematic areas include:

• Leveraging science to protect the developing brain from violence, abuse, and neglect
• Strengthening and supporting the social service workforce
• Addressing climate change, disasters, and their impact on child well-being
• Negotiation strategies for building robust child protection systems
• Child protection in the digital age
• Measurement, monitoring, and evidence generation in child protection systems
• Understanding social and structural inequalities affecting children’s health

Case Study Component:
Prior to the program, each country team prepares a case study highlighting a specific child protection challenge and potential solutions. Teams refine their proposals during the course and present their final recommendations to a panel of Harvard-affiliated child protection experts, receiving individualized feedback for practical implementation.

Program Impact

The Landry CP Training has demonstrated measurable impact by:

• Strengthening national child protection policies and frameworks
• Enhancing evidence-based advocacy for children’s rights
• Promoting collaboration among government, civil society, and international organizations
• Developing practical solutions that address both specific and systemic child protection challenges

Alumni consistently report improved ability to approach child protection issues holistically, enhanced leadership and negotiation skills, and stronger capacity to advance multi-sectoral reforms in their home countries.

Application Process

Interested teams should follow these steps:

1. Assemble a Country Team
   Ensure representation from government, international, and local NGO sectors.
2. Submit Application
   Complete the official application form, providing professional backgrounds, team composition, and a preliminary case study.
3. Selection Review
   Applications are reviewed by the FXB Center Child Protection Teaching and Training Team. Selected teams will be notified in advance to allow adequate preparation.

Application Deadline: December 1, 2025

Tuition and Funding

• Tuition is fully covered by the G. Barrie Landry Fund and UNICEF USA.
• Participants are responsible for travel, accommodation, and visa-related costs.

Contact Information

For further inquiries or guidance:

• Rebecca Shin, Director of the Child Protection Program
  • Email: rebeccashin@hsph.harvard.edu
  • Phone: +1 (617) 432-0656
• FXB Center for Health & Human Rights
  • Email: fxbcenter_info@hsph.harvard.edu
  • Address: 651 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115

Official Program Page

⁜opportunitiesforwomen.org/

Conclusion

The G. Barrie Landry Child Protection Professional Training Program represents a unique opportunity for professionals to enhance their understanding, skills, and leadership capacity in child protection. By combining rigorous academic instruction with practical, context-specific problem-solving, the program prepares teams to implement systemic changes that strengthen child protection systems globally.

Participation ensures that teams can influence national policies, improve child welfare outcomes, and foster multi-sectoral collaboration—all crucial to safeguarding children’s rights and promoting long-term societal well-being.