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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Children in Alternative Care: National Surveys 2nd edition

Eurochild Secretariat, 2010

In 2009 Eurochild carried out a survey of the situation of children in alternative care in Europe through its member organisations. The survey was not intended as a scientifically rigorous research exercise but rather to identify what information is readily available and to note some common trends across Europe.

Resolutions and Decisions adopted by the General Assembly during its sixty-fourth session

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), 2010

The present volume contains the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly from 15 September to 24 December 2009, including the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children on page 376.

Reglamento para la Aplicación de Medidas de Protección a Niños Privados de su Medio Familiar por parte de juzgados que ejercen competencia en materia de Niñez y Adolescencia Amenazada o Violada en sus Derechos Humanos

Centro Nacional de Análisis y Documentación Judicial, 2010

Este reglamento tiene por objeto adecuar la práctica judicial al sistema de protección integral de niñez y adolescencia, en la aplicación de medidas de protección y abrigo provisional de niños privados de su medio familiar.

The National Children Policy Kenya 2010

National Council for Children’s Services, 2010

The overall goal of this policy is to realize and safeguard the rights and welfare of the child in Kenya.

LEGE Nr. 123: cu privire la serviciile sociale

Republic of Moldova, 2010

This document presents the law on social services of Moldova.

LEGE Nr. 99: privind regimul juridic al adopţiei

Republic of Moldova, 2010

This document presents the adoption law of Moldova.

World Social Security Report 2010/2011: Providing Coverage in Times of Crisis and Beyond

International Labor Organization , 31 Dec 2009

This report from the International Labor Organization is the first in a series of the World Social Security Reports whose chief aim is to present the results of regular statistical monitoring of the state and developments of social security in the world. It presents the knowledge available on coverage by social security in different parts of the world and identifies existing coverage gaps. It also examines the scale of countries’ investments in social security, measured by the size and structure of social security expenditure and the sources of its financing.

U.S. Government and Partners: Working Together on a Comprehensive, Coordinated and Effective Response to Highly Vulnerable Children

USG Secretariat for Orphans and Vulnerable Children , 01 Dec 2009

Provides global estimates of the number of highly vulnerable children; a summary of United States Government (USG) assistance programs for highly vulnerable children; a summary of progress coordinating the response among USG agencies; key strategic issues and opportunities; priorities for 2009–2010 and beyond; and a summary of the results and achievements of USG assistance

Final Report from Wilton Park Conference, The Neglected Agenda: Protecting Children without Adequate Parental Care

Louise Melville Fulford , 30 Nov 2009

Policy recommendations and conclusions from November’s high level conference focused on gathering data, harnessing political will, strengthening systems, securing funding, and increasing public and political understanding regarding children without adequate parental care

Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children: A United Nations Framework

International Social Service (ISS) and SOS Children's Villages, 20 Nov 2009

This publication introduces the official text of the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children (General Assembly A/HRC/11/L.13) and provides questions for reflection on some of the key content areas outlined in the Guidelines.