Child Care and Protection Policies

Child care and protection policies regulate the care of children, including the type of support and assistance to be offered, good practice guidelines for the implementation of services, standards for care, and adequate provisions for implementation. They relate to the care a child receives at and away from home.

Displaying 1 - 10 of 1811

Revolving Doors,

This report, based on 131 in-depth interviews co-produced with peer researchers who have lived experience of the justice system, finds widespread mistrust of the family and criminal justice systems and highlights how negative interactions can shape expectations of fairness and access to justice in the U.K.. Participants also reported that court experiences caused additional harm, including deterioration in mental health, while delays, limited resources and inadequate legal support left many feeling powerless and, in some cases, pressured to plead guilty.

Sebrina Cleopatra Brown,

Raised by the shadows of slavery and colonialism, children with disabilities in Jamaica continue to face the inherited exclusion and inequality embedded in its national systems. This paper investigates the extent to which the rights outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) have been realized for children with disabilities over the past two decades.

Daniel Allen and Bonnie Jensen,

This study highlights that children in Kalaallit Nunaat are placed in out-of-home care at disproportionately high rates, creating significant strain on families and the child welfare system. Drawing on community perspectives, it identifies key research priorities focused on how colonization and structural inequalities shape family life, providing a framework to inform efforts to safely reduce reliance on out-of-home care.

Priscilla Wilson,

This study examines the disconnect between Ghana’s child protection laws and their implementation, arguing that the gap stems from tensions between global rights-based frameworks and local, duty-oriented cultural practices rather than resource limitations. It proposes a hybrid governance approach that aligns formal legal systems with traditional kinship structures and promotes culturally responsive practice to strengthen child protection outcomes.

Aroturuki Tamariki,

The New Zealand National Care Standards (NCS) Regulations came into effect in 2019, and set out the minimum standard of care that must be provided when the state has custody of a child. This is Oranga Tamariki's fifth report on compliance with the NCS Regulations. It finds that children and youth are still not receiving the minimum standard of care required by the NCS Regulations.

Dr. Matthew Egong Mike, Anigbogu Olive-Austine Chibuzo, and Alice Uloh Etim,

This study examines institutional care policy and operations in Nigeria using a qualitative literature review, with a focus on how children’s rights frameworks shape child welfare practices. The study concludes that institutions can be improved to be comparable to family living but they should be the last resort.

Faraaz Subla, Javaid Rashid, and Imran Maqbool Wani,

Institutional mechanisms established under India’s Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and the Integrated Child Protection Scheme play a central role in safeguarding children’s rights through case management, rehabilitation, and coordination. This systematic review of literature (2010–2025) finds that while these systems are essential, they face persistent challenges such as limited resources, inadequate training, and weak monitoring, with improved outcomes linked to community-based and rights-based approaches.

Yohanes Fritantus and Hendrikus Hironimus Botha,

This article examines how child protection policy is implemented at the local level in North Central Timor, highlighting existing legal frameworks, institutional arrangements, and budget allocations. It finds that while regional governments have established regulations and programs, formal child protection policies are lacking at the village level despite some related activities supporting children’s rights.

Haniyah Shofiyatul Aini, Antun Mardiyanta, Bintoro Wardiyanto,

This study compares the role of advocacy coalitions in forming child protection policies in the United States and Indonesia, looking at the problems that arise from their different political and governance systems. The findings show how important it is to improve inter-agency collaboration, strengthen local governance, and get more political support to fix the problems with child protection services

Bruce Grant,

This paper proposes an expanded conceptual and normative framework for child protection systems to promote coherence, inclusivity, and accountability in both development and humanitarian contexts. Drawing on global data, recent initiatives, and a dual-axis framework distinguishing norms of operation and intent, it offers a field-tested definition to guide national planning, partner alignment, and systems-focused reform that upholds every child’s right to protection.