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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Public Participation in Law Reform: Revision of Namibia's Draft Child Care and Protection Bill Final Report 2010

Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (MGECW), Legal Assistance Center, UNICEF, 20 Dec 2010

This document provides a summary of the various forms of consultation undertaken during the revision of the Child Care and Protection Bill. It provides a basis for future law reform processes and presents an excellent example of how to include children and the public in the law-making process.

Foster Care in Namibia: Recommendations for the Framework

Namibian Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, 20 Dec 2010

Report assessing the existing framework for foster care in light of the realities of Namibian foster care in practice. Based on information about foster care frameworks and guardianship legislation in other countries, recommendations are provided for new approaches to foster care and foster care grants which could be incorporated into Namibia’s forthcoming Child Care and Protection Act (CCPA).

Thari Ya Bana: Reflections on Children in Botswana 2010

University of Botswana and UNICEF Botswana , 20 Dec 2010

The papers presented here bring together research and reflections on children’s issues in Botswana with a particular section dedicated to child protection and the needs of children without parental care

Ghana: National Plan of Action for Orphans and Vulnerable Children

Government of Ghana , 20 Dec 2010

The development of Ghana’s three year National Plan of Action for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) is to complement and reinforce existing legislature and other social policies for vulnerable groups. The OVC NPA framework sets out time bound goals and objectives and serves as a framework for providing care and support to vulnerable children in care institutions.

Summary of the outcome of mapping and assessing Kenya’s child protection system: Strengths, weaknesses and recommendations

National Council for Children's Services, 01 Dec 2010

The purpose of the toolkit is to help UNICEF country teams and their partners to enhance the overall child protection dialogue and programming, with a particular focus on developing system capacity.

The Situation of Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children and Youth in the SADC Region (DRAFT)

Southern African Development Community (SADC), 13 Oct 2010

This Situation Analysis Report is one of a series of three documents: (1) Report on the Situation of Orphans and Vulnerable and Children and Youth in the SADC Region; (2) Conceptual Framework for Psychosocial Support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children and Youth in the SADC Region; and (3) Minimum Package of Services for Orphans and Vulnerable Children and Youth in the SADC Region. The Situation Analysis Report has informed the development of the PSS Framework and the Minimum Package of Services.

STATE PARTY EXAMINATION OF BURUNDI’S SECOND PERIODIC REPORT 55TH SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Child Rights Connect, 01 Oct 2010

This examination of Burundi’s Second Periodic Report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child includes a section on Alternative Care and Family Environment that details Burundi’s progress and challenges in areas such as regulation of adoption a

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Children's Voices: Experiences and Perceptions of European Children on Drug and Alcohol Issues

European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction , 02 Sep 2010

The purpose of this paper is to give meaning and insight into some of the key drug and alcohol issues that affect children from the perspectives of the children themselves. Research shows that large numbers of children who are separated from their parents are particularly vulnerable to developing drug and alcohol problems. Special attention is paid throughout the report on children looked after by relatives, foster carers, and institutions.

Children and Adolescents without Parental Care in Latin America: Contexts, causes, and consequences of being deprived of the right to family

Relaf, 13 Aug 2010

This paper aims to show different organisations, institutions, governments and civil society the reality facing thousands of children in Latin America. This information can be used as a tool for debating and prioritising the issue as well as promoting constructing good practices and public policies that will improve the wellbeing and chances to develop of children without parental care and/or who are at risk of losing

Cambodia Country Report: Poverty alleviation with a focus on vulnerable peoplethrough strengthening collaboration between the social welfare and health services

Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, 01 Aug 2010

This report from the Cambodian Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation outlines the efforts of the Cambodian government to address the needs of vulnerable people.