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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Measuring Impact Through a Child Protection Index: Report of Pilot Study Kiziba Camp, Rwanda

Dr. Sarah Meyer, Liberata Muhorakeye, Dr. Lindsay Stark - UNHCR, USAID, AVSI, CPC Learning Network,

This report presents the methodology, findings and key learnings of a pilot study in Kiziba camp, Rwanda.

Thailand Alternative Care Case Study

Khadijah Madihi & Sahra Brubeck - Key Assets & The Nippon Foundation,

As part of phase one of the development of the Martin James Foundation's Asia Care Network, comprehensive studies of the care system in each country were conducted to highlight the need for developing alternative care systems across South-East Asia. This case study highlights relevant data from Thailand.

Myanmar Alternative Care Case Study

Martin James Foundation,

List of Care-Relevant Analyses, Evaluations, Studies, Policies, and Legislation in Ghana

This document provides a list of care-relevant literature related to Ghana. The list includes case studies, research, legislation, and policies related to care reform, alternative care, child rights, child protection, social protection, guardianship, family-based care, institutional care, adoption, and more.

Supporting Community-Led Child Protection: An Online Guide and Toolkit

Child Resilience Alliance,

This Guide and Toolkit outlines why a community-led approach is needed and how to start putting it into practice, using a mixture of real-life examples, key tips and reflective questions.

View Guide

Hong Kong Alternative Care Case Study

Martin James Foundation,

Decalogo de Estándares de Derechos Humanos Aplicables a Niñas Niños Y Adolescentes Que Se Encuentran en Proceso de Evaluación en Instituciones Que Se Ocupan de la Protección Especial de Derechos

RELAF,

Este documento está elaborado con el fin de proporcionar criterios de evaluación en el ejercicio de la atención que brinden las entidades en general, en especial las que se ocupan de la protección especial los derechos de todo los niños, niñas y adolescentes.

The Laws of Zambia: The Juveniles Act

The Republic of Zambia,

This Act makes provisions for “the custody and protection of juveniles in need of care in Zambia; to provide for the correction of juvenile delinquents; and to provide for matters incidental to or connected with the foregoing.”

Vietnam Alternative Care Case Study

Martin James Foundation,

List of Care-Relevant Policies and Legislation in Armenia

This document provides a list of care-relevant literature related to Armenia. The list includes legislation and policies related to child rights, child protection, social protection, guardianship, family-based care, institutional care, adoption, and more.