Emergency Care Arrangements

The priority for unaccompanied children in an emergency is to reunite them with their parents, family members, or relatives as quickly as possible, in order to provide them with care and protection. Where this is not immediately possible, children will require emergency care until reunification is possible via documentation and tracing activities.

Emergency care should cater to the child’s basic shelter, security, food and health needs, on a level that is comparable to the local community in order to avoid encouraging further family separations. Children should be kept fully informed of efforts to locate family, and any interim care plans. All agencies offering care must follow and international standards, and coordinate with the local authority.

The preferred care will usually be with temporary caretakers from the community, rather than in institutions, since this provides continuity and greater protection. Children associated with armed forces may require interim care, if immediate family reunification is not possible and in their best interests. Spontaneous care situations, such as kinship, foster care, and child headed households should be screened, monitored and supported to ensure children are protected and their basic needs and rights are being met. In some cases an alternative placement may be necessary. Where family members cannot be located, a longer term care plan should be formulated, however adoption must only be considered after all tracing and reunification activities have been exhausted over a substantial period of time.

Support programs should include all affected children, and should not target or isolate separated children. They should strengthen the community’s natural coping methods and support structures, and will therefore include community and child participation in decision making processes. All placements must be fully documented to facilitate tracing and reunification activities. Reunification should be the immediate goal for all children, unless this is not in their best interests.

The documents in this section relate to emergency care guidelines and examples from around the world.

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Facing the Crisis: Supporting Children Through Positive Care Options

David Tolfree, 2005

A paper with guidelines for keeping children with families and providing proper care and protection for them. It provides examples and plans for those interested in planning care for separated children.

Guidelines to Conduct an Assessment in Emergency

Save the Children, 2005

Guidelines for good practices in conducting assessments following an emergency.

Rapid Child Protection Assessment Form

N/A, 2005

A simple, one-page form designed to assess child protection needs in immediate relief situations.

Rapid Child Assessment Form

Children and DDR

Guidance on planning and implementation of child-specific disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programming in a peacekeeping environment. Includes definitions, roles for child protection agencies, and key programming considerations on prevention of recruitment.

Protecting Children in Emergencies

Save the Children, 2005

A twelve page policy brief that outlines Save the Children's position on the type of protection children need in an emergency. Contains some statistical information.

Fighting Back: Child and Community-led Strategies to Avoid Children's Recruitment into Armed Forces and Groups in West Africa

Emily Delap, 2005

A research study which explores strategies used by children, families and communities to prevent child recruitment into armed forces.

Separated Children: Care and Protection of Children in Emergencies

Save the Children Federation, 2005

Guidance on preventing child separation, interviewing separated children, and programming for their care and protection needs. Contains specific information on temporary and longer term care options.

Indonesian Government Policy on Separated Children, Unaccompanied Children and Children left with One Parent in Emergency Situations

Bachtiar Chamsyah, 2005

Indonesian policy paper on the practice principles for separated and unaccompanied children in an emergency, including guidance on short and long-term care arrangements, tracing, and family reunification

Handbook on Psychosocial Assessment of Children and Communities in Emergencies

Regional Emergency Psychosocial Support Network, 2005

A guidebook focusing on the assessment to be conducted when an emergency first hits or just after a major event in an armed conflict. Outlines the preparation needs of an assessment team and describes what an assessment should concentrate on.

The Lost Ones: Emergency Care and Family Tracing for Children from Birth to Five Years

Marie de la Soudière, Jan Williamson, and Jacqueline Botte, 2005

Guidelines for the care of young children separated from their families in emergencies. Includes detailed information on prevention of separation, child registration and documentation, and family reunification.