Child Care and Protection System Reforms

Social welfare sector reform is increasingly common, particularly in transitional countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Increasing attention has been paid to the development of preventive community based child and family welfare programs that would, in coordination with health and education programs and social assistance, provide a range of support for vulnerable families.

Recognition of the damaging effects of institutional care on children and its high cost has influenced governments to redirect resources towards alternative family and community-based care practices such as kinship care, fostering, and adoption. Redirecting resources in the context of social welfare reforms requires a commitment from governments to provide adequate financing for effective policy implementation.

Funding availability raises a variety of issues regarding the level and type of support to be provided, the private or public management of services, and the entitlement process. Social welfare should protect the rights of children and their caretakers via fair and clear criteria of support provisions, with transparent procedures for the effective allocation of services.

Social welfare reforms to protect and support children and families need to be built on legal protections and child care policies which reflect the same child centred goals. Alternative forms of community based care, combined with social reintegration programmes and family support services, must be developed to reduce the use of institutions and enable children leaving institutions to rejoin their communities.

The resources in this section focus on country initiatives in reforming their social welfare sector to finance community based care developments.

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Lessons learned from a 10 year national study of Australian child protection data

Ben Mathews - Australian Centre for Health Law Research, 28 Aug 2016

This document contains an overview of a 10-year study conducted in Australia on trends in child protection outcomes across jurisdictions.

IKLAN Pengasuhan Keluarga Save the Children YSTC 1

Save the Children, 26 Jul 2016

This video highlights the importance of keeping children with families.

Youth Perspectives on Being Adopted from Foster Care by Lesbian and Gay Parents: Implications for Families and Adoption Professionals

Patricia A. Cody, Rachel H. Farr, Ruth G. McRoy, Susan J. Ayers-Lopez & Kathleen J. Ledesma – Adoption Quarterly, 20 Jul 2016

This article presents findings from a study on children who were adopted by lesbian or gay parents from within the United States foster care system, as well as a survey from the adoptive parents. The article reviews the controversial issues facing gay and lesbian adoptive parents.

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Paper Orphans: Exploring Child Trafficking for the Purpose of Orphanages

Kathryn E. van Doore - The International Journal of Children's Rights, 01 Jul 2016

“Paper Orphans: Exploring Child Trafficking for the Purpose of Orphanages” serves as a legal analysis of child trafficking for the purpose of filling orphanages. This paper focuses on the displacement of the child and intends to determine whether or not this displacement can be determined as trafficking under international law.

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“Adapting to learn, learning to adapt:" Overview of and considerations for child protection systems strengthening in emergencies

Child Frontiers on behalf of the Systems Strengthening and Disaster Risk Reduction Task Force - co-led by the CPC Learning Network and Plan International, 01 Jul 2016

The aims of this document are to: 1. Provide an overview of child protection systems strengthening in emergencies practice to date, and based on this, 2. Propose certain key considerations with regards to systems for child protection practitioners.

Adoption and Foster Care Placement Policies Legislatively Promoting the Best Interest of Children Amidst Competing Interests of Religious Freedom and Equal Protection for Same-Sex Couples

Samantha R. Lyew - Journal of Legislation, 27 May 2016

This article examines adoption and foster care placement policies as they pertain to the competing interests of religious freedom and equal protection for same-sex couples.

Integrated Child Protection and Health Kusamala Project

Esther Ngulube - CMMB, 06 May 2016

This presentation by Esther Ngulube of CMMB, given at the Zambia National Consultation to Accelerate Care Reform, outlines the objectives and activities of the Kusamala Project in Zambia and the key learning from this project.

Disability and Child Care Reform

Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare, Zambia, 06 May 2016

This presentation by the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare, given at the Zambia National Consultation to Accelerate Care Reform, presents a situational analysis of children with disabilities in Zambia and explains why disability should be at the core of care reform.

Closing Remarks and Call for Action from the Permanent Secretary of Community Development and Social Welfare for the National Child Care Reform Consultative Forum, Zambia

Dr. Davy Chikamata, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare, Zambia, 06 May 2016

This document includes the full closing remarks and call to action from the Zambia National Consultation to Accelerate Care Reform, presents a situational analysis of children with disabilities in Zambia and explains why disability should be at the core of care reform.

Accelerating Child Care Reform in Zambia: A Call to Action

Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare, Zambia, 06 May 2016

This presentation by the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare, given at the Zambia National Consultation to Accelerate Care Reform, outlines eight strategic actions to be taken to accelerate care reform in Zambia.