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 Inshuti z’Umuryango: The Volunteers Helping Keep Children Safe in Rwanda (Results Brief)

UNICEF, Rwanda National Child Development Agency, 10 Feb 2023

This brief presents the results of several assessments of the ‘Friends of the Family’ or ‘Inshuti z’Umuryango’ (IZU) initiative in Rwanda. IZU is a frontline volunteer cadre introduced in 2016 as part of Rwanda's national child protection system strengthening and care reform efforts.

Learning Brief: Influencing How Governments Care for Children in Moldova and Guatemala

Changing the Way We Care, 01 Feb 2023

This learning brief was developed as part of the CTWWC 2021 annual report and shares learning from two demonstration countries, Moldova and Guatemala. It showcases how care reform is led by government and how to influence different government actors.

El futuro de los sistemas de protección infantil en América Latina y Europa: Revisión de países seleccionados. Lecciones e impactos

Mónica López López, Hilda Paredes Dávila, Beatriz Vizcarra Larrañaga, 17 Jan 2023

El objetivo fundamental del presente libro es el análisis comparativo de las políticas, prácticas e investigaciones en relación a los sistemas de protección infantil en diversos países de América Latina y Europa. Las distintas experiencias recogidas en el texto esperamos contribuyan a aportar a la escasa literatura existente sobre el tema en Iberoamérica, pese a su enorme relevancia para los distintos intervinientes, investigadores, comunidad profesional y tomadores de decisiones.

El futuro de los sistemas de protección infantil en América Latina y Europa: Revisión de países seleccionados. Lecciones e impactos

The Perceived Impact of Peer Parental Advocacy on Child Protection Practice

Clive Diaz, Samantha Fitz-Symonds, Lilly Evans, David Westlake, Richard Devine, Diletta Mauri, Bethan Davies - What Works for Early Intervention and Children’s Social Care, 2023

This report presents the findings from a mixed-methods evaluation of peer parental advocacy (PPA) in the London Borough of Camden.

Strengthening Alternative Care Practices for Children in Need of Care and Protection Under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015

Judith Harwin, Lily Golding, 31 Dec 2022

This UK Department for Education report charts the experiences and views of parents in the UK whose children were made subject to a supervision order or a care order at home at the end of care proceedings.

Supporting families after care proceedings: supervision orders and beyond

El futuro de los sistemas de protección infantil en América Latina y Europa: Revisión de países seleccionados. Lecciones e impactos

Mónica López López, Hilda Paredes Dávila, Beatriz Vizcarra Larrañaga, 31 Dec 2022

The National Adoption System and Child Protection in Guatemala: Looking Back and Examining the Today

Carmen Monico, Karen S. Rotabi-Casares, Kelley M. Bunkers, 30 Dec 2022

This article discusses the evolution of adoption policy and practices in Guatemala from the 1990s to 2021.

The National Adoption System and Child Protection in Guatemala: Looking Back and Examining the Today

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.