Applications are open for Harvard’s G. Barrie Landry Child Protection Professional Training Program 2027 in Boston. Tuition is covered for admitted participants, with 30 places available for mid-career child protection professionals applying in three-person country teams.
Applications are now open for the 2027 G. Barrie Landry Child Protection Professional Training Program, a one-week intensive professional training opportunity led by the FXB Center for Health & Human Rights at Harvard University.
The program is designed for mid-career professionals working in child protection across government agencies, international organisations and local NGOs. The 2027 training will take place during the week of June 7, 2027, on the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health campus in Boston, Massachusetts.
A major benefit is that tuition is covered for all admitted applicants, thanks to support from the G. Barrie Landry Fund for Child Protection Professional Training and UNICEF USA.
However, this is not a fully funded program. Participants are normally responsible for their own travel, accommodation, visa and other travel documentation costs. Harvard states that there may be an opportunity for admitted participants to apply for some travel and/or accommodation funding after admission.
Another important requirement is that applicants cannot apply individually. Applications must be submitted in three-person, cross-sectoral country teams.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Program | G. Barrie Landry Child Protection Professional Training Program |
| Institution | FXB Center for Health & Human Rights at Harvard University |
| Location | Boston, Massachusetts, USA |
| Venue | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health |
| 2027 Dates | Week of June 7, 2027 |
| Duration | One week |
| Format | On-site intensive training |
| Target Group | Mid-career child protection professionals |
| Application Status | Open |
| Tuition | Covered for admitted participants |
| Travel | Participant responsibility |
| Accommodation | Participant responsibility |
| Visa | Participant responsibility |
| Additional Funding | Some travel/accommodation funding may potentially be available after admission |
| Cohort Size | 30 participants |
| Country Teams | 10 teams |
| Team Size | 3 professionals |
| Language | Written and spoken English fluency required |
| Individual Applications | Not accepted |
What Is the G. Barrie Landry Child Protection Professional Training Program?
The Landry Child Protection Professional Training Program is an intensive professional-development course for experienced practitioners working to protect children from:
- Abuse
- Violence
- Exploitation
- Neglect
The program recognizes that child protection challenges can take many forms, including displacement, child labour, abuse and neglect, early marriage, war and natural disasters.
Harvard’s approach emphasizes that children have rights to health, education, justice and protection regardless of their circumstances or legal status.
Protecting these rights often requires multiple institutions to work together. The course therefore emphasizes an integrated and multi-sectoral approach to child protection.
Participants are expected to strengthen both their technical understanding of child protection and their leadership and negotiation capabilities.
Who Should Apply?
The program is specifically designed for mid-career professionals working in areas where child protection is critical.
Candidates should also be interested in strengthening their multi-sectoral leadership abilities so they can increase their professional impact.
This is therefore not primarily a student program or introductory course for people with no professional child protection experience.
The strongest candidates are likely to be professionals already involved in child protection systems, policies, programmes or services.
The Three-Person Country Team Requirement
One of the most important eligibility conditions is that applications must be submitted as a cross-sectoral country team consisting of three people.
Harvard states clearly:
No applications from individuals will be considered for admission.
The preferred composition is:
| Team Member | Preferred Organisation |
|---|---|
| Member 1 | Government agency |
| Member 2 | International organisation |
| Member 3 | Local NGO |
The purpose of this structure is to strengthen national capacity and encourage cooperation between institutions that may have different but complementary responsibilities for protecting children.
Applicants should therefore identify suitable partners before requesting and preparing an application.
Can NGO Professionals Apply?
Yes.
The preferred team composition specifically includes one professional employed by a local NGO.
However, the NGO professional should form part of the required three-person country team rather than submit an individual application.
Can Government Employees Apply?
Yes.
Harvard specifically prefers country teams to include one member employed by a government agency.
This could make the training particularly relevant to professionals working in ministries, child protection agencies, social services, justice institutions or other government bodies involved in child protection.
The source does not restrict participation to specific government departments.
Can UN and International Organisation Staff Apply?
Yes.
The preferred team composition includes one member employed by an international organisation.
The program is therefore relevant to experienced professionals working on child protection through international institutions, provided they form an eligible country team with the other sectors.
English Language Requirement
Participants must be fluent in:
Written and spoken English.
The supplied program information does not specify that applicants must submit IELTS, TOEFL or another standardized English-language examination.
Applicants should therefore not assume that a particular test certificate is required unless it is requested in the application materials provided by Harvard.
What Participants Will Learn
The program is designed to deepen participants’ understanding of both child protection problems and the systems needed to address them.
Understanding the Impact of Violence and Abuse
Participants examine how violence, exploitation and abuse affect children’s:
- Emotional development
- Intellectual development
- Social development
The program also addresses the traumatic effects that war and natural disasters can have on children.
Multidisciplinary Child Protection Approaches
The course introduces participants to multidisciplinary approaches for preventing and responding to harm against children.
This includes analytical frameworks and legal principles, including approaches grounded in international human rights.
Building Effective Child Protection Systems
Participants learn about the components required for a well-functioning child protection system.
This system-level perspective is central to the program because protecting children often requires coordination between sectors rather than isolated interventions.
Data and Evidence
The program introduces participants to data sources relevant to child protection systems.
It also examines:
- Challenges in establishing data systems
- Evidence-based advocacy
- Measurement
- Evidence generation
- Digital approaches to child protection challenges
Leadership and Coalition Building
Participants develop coalition-building and leadership skills.
These skills are intended to help professionals secure child protection policy and legislative reforms across areas including:
- Education
- Health
- Social services
- Justice
Examples of Course Sessions
Harvard provides examples of sessions offered during previous training programs.
Topics have included:
Leveraging Science to Protect the Developing Brain
This area examines the relationship between child development and experiences of violence, abuse and neglect.
Engaging and Strengthening the Social Service Workforce
Participants consider the role of professionals and institutions responsible for delivering child protection services.
Climate Change, Disasters and Child Well-Being
The course considers how environmental and humanitarian emergencies affect children’s welfare and protection.
Negotiation for the Child Protection System
Participants develop negotiation skills that can support coordination and reform.
Child Protection in a Digital World
The program examines child protection challenges within changing digital environments.
Measurement and Evidence Generation
Participants consider how data and evidence can strengthen child protection systems and decision-making.
Social and Structural Inequalities and Children’s Health
The course also examines broader inequalities and their relationship with child health and protection.
Country Case Study Project
The training is designed to go beyond lectures.
Each participating country team works on a real child protection challenge from its own country.
Before arriving at Harvard, the three team members work together to prepare a case study.
They present the case at the beginning of the training week.
The presentation outlines:
- A child protection problem affecting their country or system.
- Possible approaches for addressing the problem.
- The specific challenge the team wants to tackle.
Harvard’s training organisers provide participants with materials to help them prepare the case study.
Examples of Previous Case Studies
Past participating teams have examined specific child protection problems such as:
- Child marriage
- Alternative care
- Violence against children
Other teams have addressed broader systemic weaknesses, including:
- Inadequate legal frameworks
- Insufficient social service workforces
- Lack of reliable administrative child protection data
This practical component allows participants to connect Harvard teaching directly with problems they encounter professionally.
Final Country Team Presentation
Throughout the week, teams use the research, concepts and discussions introduced by instructors to improve their proposed response to the child protection problem.
On the final day, each country team presents its conclusions and proposed approach.
The presentation is made to a panel of Harvard-affiliated child protection experts.
The panel provides individualized feedback and suggestions to each team.
This gives participants an opportunity to leave the program with ideas that can potentially be adapted and implemented within their own national child protection systems.
Who Teaches the Program?
The program is taught by Harvard faculty with expertise relevant to child protection, alongside expert child protection professionals.
It is led by Harvard University’s FXB Center for Health & Human Rights and hosted on the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health campus.
How Many Participants Will Be Selected?
Enrollment is limited to:
30 participants
Because applications are submitted in groups of three, this represents:
10 country teams
The small cohort makes the application process selective, although Harvard does not provide an acceptance rate on the supplied page.
Is the Harvard Child Protection Training Free?
Tuition is covered for admitted participants.
The G. Barrie Landry Fund for Child Protection Professional Training and UNICEF USA cover the tuition costs of successful applicants.
This removes the course tuition expense for admitted participants.
However, candidates need to understand the difference between tuition-covered and fully funded.
Does Harvard Cover Travel and Accommodation?
Not automatically.
Harvard states that participants are responsible for:
- Travel
- Accommodation
- Required visas
- Other travel documentation
The program should therefore not be described as fully funded.
There is, however, a potentially useful funding option.
Harvard states that there may be an opportunity to apply for some travel and/or accommodation funding after admission has been secured.
The wording is important. This additional support is not guaranteed to every admitted participant.
Applicants should therefore prepare financially on the assumption that they may need to cover these expenses themselves unless they later receive additional assistance.
Does Harvard Pay for the U.S. Visa?
The source does not state that Harvard pays visa application costs.
Participants are responsible for securing the visa and other travel documentation required to attend the program.
Applicants travelling internationally should begin considering U.S. entry requirements early enough to avoid delays.
Where Will the Training Take Place?
The program is held on the:
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health campus in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
It is an on-site training course.
The supplied source does not offer a remote or online participation alternative for the 2027 program.
When Is the 2027 Training?
The 2027 program will take place during the:
Week of June 7, 2027
The course lasts one week.
Admitted teams will be notified sufficiently in advance of the program, according to Harvard.
Are Applications Open?
Yes.
Harvard explicitly states:
Applications for the 2027 program are now open.
This is therefore a current application opportunity rather than an announcement of a future unconfirmed intake.
Application Deadline
The supplied official program page does not state an application deadline.
Applicants should not invent or assume a closing date.
Because applications are already open and teams need time to organise cross-sector participation, international travel and potentially visa arrangements, interested professionals should consider requesting the application information promptly.
How to Apply for the Harvard Child Protection Training 2027
The application process begins by contacting the program.
Step 1: Build Your Country Team
Before applying, identify three suitable professionals representing the preferred cross-sector structure:
- Government
- International organisation
- Local NGO
Step 2: Confirm Professional Relevance
All three participants should be mid-career professionals working in areas where child protection is critical.
Step 3: Confirm English Fluency
Participants need fluency in written and spoken English.
Step 4: Request the Application
Harvard instructs candidates to contact Rebecca Shin, Director of the Child Protection Program, to request an application.
The official contact email listed for the program is:
Step 5: Prepare the Team Application
Follow the application instructions provided by the FXB Center.
Because Harvard’s webpage does not provide a complete document checklist, candidates should not assume which supporting documents are mandatory until they receive the official application materials.
Step 6: Prepare the Country Case Study
Selected country teams will work collaboratively before the training to prepare a child protection case study based on a real challenge in their country.
How to Strengthen a Country Team
A strong team should demonstrate genuine cross-sector collaboration.
Rather than selecting three professionals with nearly identical responsibilities, applicants should consider how each member contributes a different institutional perspective.
For example, a government professional may understand policy implementation and public systems, an international organisation professional may contribute technical or comparative expertise, and an NGO professional may provide direct implementation or community-level experience.
The program’s design suggests that this diversity is important because child protection problems often cannot be solved by one institution alone.
Application Mistakes to Avoid
One of the biggest mistakes is submitting an application as an individual. Harvard explicitly states that individual applications will not be considered.
Another mistake would be describing the program as fully funded. Tuition is covered, but participants remain responsible for travel, accommodation, visas and travel documentation unless they later secure additional support.
Applicants should also avoid waiting until the last minute to find their team members. Building a three-person cross-sectoral country team may require coordination between separate organisations.
Finally, candidates should not invent an application deadline. The supplied official page confirms applications are open but does not provide a closing date.
Why This Training Matters for Child Protection Professionals
The program’s distinguishing feature is its combination of academic learning with a real national child protection problem.
Participants do not simply attend lectures and leave with theoretical knowledge.
Instead, teams arrive with an existing challenge, refine their thinking throughout the training and conclude by presenting potential solutions to Harvard-affiliated child protection experts.
This can be particularly valuable for mid-career professionals who already understand the realities of child protection work but want stronger analytical, leadership, negotiation and system-building capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are applications open for the Harvard G. Barrie Landry Child Protection Training 2027?
Yes. Harvard states that applications for the 2027 program are now open.
When will the 2027 training take place?
The program will take place during the week of June 7, 2027.
Where is the training held?
It is held at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts.
How long is the program?
It is a one-week intensive training program.
Is the training online?
No online option is identified. The program is described as an on-site course.
Who can apply?
It is designed for mid-career professionals working in areas where child protection is critical.
Can I apply individually?
No. Harvard explicitly states that individual applications will not be considered.
How many people must be on a team?
Each country team must contain three participants.
Who should be on the team?
The preferred composition is one government professional, one international organisation professional and one local NGO professional.
How many people will be admitted?
Enrollment is limited to 30 participants, representing 10 three-person country teams.
Is tuition covered?
Yes. Tuition costs are covered for admitted applicants.
Is the program fully funded?
No. Participants are responsible for travel, accommodation, visa requirements and other travel documentation.
Is travel funding available?
Harvard states that there may be an opportunity to apply for some travel and/or accommodation funding after admission. This support is not guaranteed.
Is English required?
Yes. Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
What is the application deadline?
The supplied official page does not state a deadline.
How do I request an application?
Interested teams can request application information from the Director of the Child Protection Program using the contact information provided on Harvard’s official program page.
Final Thoughts
The Harvard G. Barrie Landry Child Protection Professional Training Program 2027 is a specialized opportunity for experienced professionals working to strengthen systems that protect children from violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect.
The one-week course will take place during the week of June 7, 2027, at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.
Applications are currently open, and tuition is covered for all admitted applicants through support from the G. Barrie Landry Fund for Child Protection Professional Training and UNICEF USA.
Only 30 participants — ten country teams of three people each — will be enrolled.
The most important eligibility condition is the team structure. Individual applications are not accepted. Applicants must apply as a three-person cross-sectoral country team, preferably consisting of one government professional, one international organisation professional and one local NGO professional.
Candidates should also budget carefully. Although tuition is covered, participants are responsible for travel, accommodation, visas and other travel documentation. Some additional travel or accommodation funding may potentially become available after admission, but it is not guaranteed.
For mid-career professionals already working in child protection, the program offers an opportunity to combine Harvard-led learning with practical work on a real child protection challenge facing their country.
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