The goal of this Prakas is to ensure the best interests of the child and to protect the basic rights of all children especially children who are in need of special care and protection or at-risk children, to fully develop in a family environment in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding. This Prakas is intended to define roles and responsibilities of relevant competent agencies and establish procedures, operational guides, and forms to implement the Policy on Alternative Care for Children, aiming to uphold the best interests of the child as the paramount consideration, recognizing the child’s right to grow up in a permanent family—preferably his or her biological family, and other family in the community.