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.

States and all organisations with child care programmes should have child care policies which are in line with national legislation and international law, e.g. the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). In line with the CRC, emphasis should be placed on the child’s best interests, with support to families prioritised in order to prevent family separation. Good gatekeeping mechanisms are essential in ensuring families receive the services they need and are entitled to, and to guard against inappropriate placement into poor care arrangements.

Home-based care, day care, and other family support services are mechanisms for assisting families in providing for the child’s development and, when used appropriately, can prevent child separation. When a child is unable to remain at home, alternative forms of community based care should be prioritised, such as formal kinship care or foster care. The use of institutions should be highlighted as a last and temporary measure. All support and care provisions should outline the referral and admission process, the use of care plans, regular reviews, rehabilitation, and aftercare procedures.

Child protection legislation which recognises that abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual, or neglect, and may be carried out by parents, caretakers, children and other adults is required. All agencies working with children should have written child protection policies which respect the rights of the child. Policies should outline behaviours and actions which are unacceptable, provide standards for the appropriate care of children, and clear guidelines on what procedures to follow and by whom, including reporting mechanisms for suspected abuse to an assigned authority for investigation.

Child care and protection policies require resources and monitoring of standards to ensure their appropriate implementation. Adequate provision and training of child care and social work staff is required to deliver family support services and alternatives forms of child care. All staff working with children should be trained and supervised in providing appropriate care for children, identifying abuse, and responding appropriately.

The literature in this section contains country reports and examples of national and organisational child care and protection policies.

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The Importance of Supporting Mental Health in Children's Care: Part 3

Family for Every Child, 21 Dec 2022

This Family for Every Child webinar focuses on the use of creative therapies in supporting the mental health of vulnerable children and youth.

Building a Specialized Model of Care for Youth Involved in Sex trafficking in Child Welfare: A Systematic Review and Interviews With Experts-by-Experience

16 Dec 2022

This study aimed to identify components essential to building a model of care for youth involved in sex trafficking in child welfare.

Child Abuse and Neglect - The International Journal

Integrating Social Protection and Child Protection Services for Better Outcomes for Children in the Middle East and North Africa

Karen Codazzi Pereira, Fernando Araújo, International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG) , 15 Dec 2022

This research report, developed by the IPC-IG and the UNICEF MENA Regional Office for Middle East and North Africa, presents five case studies that demonstrate how integrated social protection and child protection systems enhance efficiency, especially of the social service workforce, and improve socio-economic and child outcomes: Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, Egypt, and Brazil.

Integrating social protection and child protection services for better outcomes for children in the Middle East and North Africa

(In)visible Children: Eurochild 2022 Report on Children in Need Across Europe

Eurochild, 05 Dec 2022

This report highlights the recommendations and priorities that EU decision-makers and national governments can do to support the most vulnerable children and prevent widening inequalities.

Understanding the Impact of a New Approach to the Safeguarding of Children at Risk: An Evaluation Protocol

Ruta Buivydaite , Apostolos Tsiachristas, Steve Thomas, Hannah Farncombe, Rafael Perera-Salazar, Ray Fitzpatrick, Charles Vincent, 11 Nov 2022

In this paper, the authors describe a proposed programme of evaluation to examine the impact of a new approach to the welfare of children in England on the time they are in contact with services.

Deinstitutionalisation in Hungarian Child Protection: Policy and Practice Changes in Historical Contexts

Erzsébet Rákó, 01 Nov 2022

The aim of the study is to present the historical changes in child protection in Hungary and the process of deinstitutionalisation.

The Importance of Supporting Mental Health in Children's Care: Part 2

Family for Every Child, 19 Oct 2022

Four Family for Every Child member organisations share their experiences and perspectives on supporting the mental health of vulnerable children, building on discussions from their last event:

The Faith Community's Role in Care Reform: Insights from Moldova

Changing the Way We Care, 06 Oct 2022

This report details Changing the Way We Care's enquiry into the faith-based community in Moldova and its involvement in the ongoing reform of care for vulnerable children.

Rolul comunității de credință în reforma sistemului de îngrijire a copilului: Experiența Moldovei

Changing the Way We Care, 06 Oct 2022

În primăvara anului 2021, programul Changing the Way We Care (CTWWC) a lansat un sondaj pentru a studia comunitatea de credință din Moldova și implicarea acesteia în reforma sistemului de îngrijire a copiilor. Scopul acestui sondaj a fost de a înțelege mai bine angajamentul actual și potențial al organizațiilor și liderilor de credință în calitate de persoane de influență și furnizori de servicii, dar și de a identifica orice obstacole în calea implicării acestora în reforma respectivă.

Voices of Children & Young People Around the World: Global Child Helpline Data from 2021

Child Helpline International, 21 Sep 2022

In order to understand the issues faced by the children and young people who get in touch with child helplines, Child Helpline International interviews members around the world every year to gather information about the contacts they receive. This report provides an overview of the information recieved for 2021.