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.   

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Martin James Foundation and Udayan Care,

This three-year initiative focused on strengthening family reintegration and preventing unnecessary child separation in Delhi, India

U.K. Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and Global Campaign on Children's Care Reform Working Group,
Jeremy Shiffman, Seiha Min,

This article traces the evolution of Cambodia’s system for caring for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), shaped by political stabilization, emerging child protection concerns, international advocacy, and gradual state engagement. While Cambodia now has a solid policy framework, weak government prioritization, poor interagency coordination, and limited local capacity hinder implementation, leaving proponents to push for broader political commitment, balanced international support, and stronger responses to root causes such as poverty and migration.

Children and Youth Services Review,

This special issue of the Children and Youth Services Review concerns the governance of children's care systems in low and middle-income countries, with a focus on Cambodia, Uganda and Zambia. The special issue focuses on the political and bureaucratic factors that shape priority for and the effectiveness of national children's care systems in low and middle-income countries.

Brenda Schuster with support from Kate Greenaway, Leia Isanhart, Marie Blum and Teresiah Kamau,

This case study showcases Kar Geno’s transition from institutional care to community-based support for children with disabilities in Siaya County, Kenya, guided by CTWWC and Catholic Relief Services. Through family reintegration, disability-inclusive services, and strong collaboration with government and civil society, Kar Geno has become a model for sustainable care reform, reintegrating nearly all resident children while continuing to provide accessible medical and psychosocial support through a community drop-in center.

UNICEF and Maestral,

The Technical Guidance for Oblast-Level Better Care Start-up outlines how to implement Ukraine’s Better Care programme at the regional level, in line with the National Strategy for Ensuring the Right of Every Child to Grow up in a Family Environment (2024–2028). It assigns clear roles to government, local authorities, civil society, and development partners, and provides a step-by-step approach for oblasts: forming Better Care Councils and community taskforces, conducting situational analyses, creating costed plans, setting monitoring frameworks, and delivering ISSB and family-based care.

Kelley Bunkers and Sian Long, Maestral International, in collaboration with Eileen Ihrig and Lauren Oleykowski, CRS Senior Technical Advisors,

The Safe and Responsible Exit Guidance developed by Catholic Relief Services provides a structured framework for organizations transitioning away from financial and technical support of residential care facilities. This guidance emphasizes ethical divestment that prioritizes child safety and supports ongoing care reform.

U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office ,

La Charte mondiale pour la réforme de la prise en charge des enfants appelle les dirigeants mondiaux à agir ensemble pour: respecter la Convention des Nations Unies relative aux droits de l’enfant et la Convention des Nations Unies relative aux droits des personnes handicapées;
investir dans les familles, les enfants, les jeunes sortant de l’aide sociale et dans des services inclusifs; mettre fin à la violence à l’égard des enfants et aux pratiques néfastes telles que le tourisme dans les orphelinats

U.K. Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office ,

La Carta Global para la Reforma del Cuidado de la Niñez y Adolescencia es un llamado a los líderes mundiales para que actúen juntos para: respetar la Convención de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos del Niño y sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad; invertir en las familias, en las niñas, niños o adolescentes egresados del sistema de protección y servicios inclusivos; poner fin a la violencia contra la niñez y adolescencia y a las prácticas perjudiciales como el turismo en las instituciones

U.K. Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office,

In January 2025, U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office launched an initiative to transform the lives of all children globally, so that they are cared for in families and free of violence, exploitation and other harmful practices.

The Global Charter on Children’s Care Reform is a call for world leaders to act together to: uphold the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; invest in families, children, care leavers, and inclusive services; and end violence against children and harmful practices like orphanage tourism.