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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Compendium of promising practices to ensure that children under the age of three grow up in a safe and supportive family environment

UNICEF, 01 May 2015

This Compendium is a compilation of the most encouraging initiatives in the area of prevention of child abandonment and relinquishment that have been implemented and tested in the CEE/CIS region.

Information Packet: Deportation and Child Welfare in Mixed Status Families with Unauthorized Parents and Citizen Children

Norah Covarrubias & Alisa Hartman - National Center for Child Welfare Excellence, 01 May 2015

This information packet provides an overview of deportation of family members in families of mixed immigration status in the United States, as it relates to child welfare.

Manifesto For Ethical Intercountry Adoption

International Social Service (ISS), 01 May 2015

The International Social Service (ISS) has launched its Manifesto For Ethical Intercountry Adoption. The Manifesto seeks to promote ethical practices by all adoption stakeholders to better protect children, whether in the receiving country or country of origin, including inter alia, biological parents, adoptive parents, professionals and government representatives.

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Information Packet: Pregnancy Prevention for Youth in Foster Care

Caitlin Baer and Madeline Vasquez - National Center for Child Welfare Excellence, 01 May 2015

This information packet from the National Center for Child Welfare Excellence presents demographic data on pregnant youth in foster care and best practice tips for pregnancy prevention among youth in foster care in the US, as well as an overview of a model pregnancy prevention program and a list of additional resources.

Code of Ethics for Child and Youth Care Workers in South Africa - Video

National Association of Child and Youth Care Workers, South Africa, 30 Apr 2015

This video provides instruction on the code of ethics and other standards of care for those who work in the field of Child and Youth Care.

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Children without Appropriate Care Program Learning Event (Video)

Save the Children, 30 Apr 2015

This video briefly recaps the Africa-Wide Children without Appropriate Care Program Learning Event hosted by Save the Children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 20-23 April 2015.

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Tracking Progress Initiative Presentation from the Africa-Wide Children Without Appropriate Care Program Learning Event 2015

Hope and Homes for Children and Better Care Network, 21 Apr 2015

This presentation was delivered at the Africa-Wide Children Without Appropriate Care Program Learning Event: “Shaping our care reform work across Africa,” held in Ethiopia on 20-23 April 2015. It provides an overview of the Tracking Progress Initiative, which includes the development of a tool to measure country progress in implementing the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children.

Where Are We and Where Do We Want to Be with Care Reform? The Global Picture

Save the Children, 21 Apr 2015

This presentation provides an overview of the status of care reform efforts in Africa. It identifies where care reform is underway as well as areas in which reform is still needed. The presentation looks ahead to what is needed to accelerate the momentum on care reform in the region.

Shaping Our Care Reform Work Across Africa - Program Learning Event

Save the Children, 20 Apr 2015

Various stakeholders, including Better Care Network, met at an Africa wide Program Learning Event on 20-23 April 2015, organized by Save the Children, under the theme “Shaping our care reform work across Africa,” which brought together country, regional and global experts.

“Shaping Our Care Reform Work Across Africa:” Program Learning Event Agenda

Save the Children, 20 Apr 2015