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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Opening Remarks by the Permanent Secretary of Community Development and Social Welfare for the Zambia National Child Care Consultative Forum

Dr. Davy Chikamata, Permanent Secretary of Community Development and Social Welfare - Zambia, 04 May 2016

This document includes the opening remarks given on the first day of the National Consultation to Accelerate Care Reform in Zambia by Dr. Davy Chikamata, the Permanent Secretary of Community Development and Social Welfare, to the participants of the consultation.

Childcare Reform Forum Presentation

Zambia Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare, 04 May 2016

This presentation from Zambia's Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare, given at the Zambia National Consultation to Accelerate Care Reform, provides an overview of alternative care in Zambia, the CIF Initiative, prevention and response services, progress, strengths, opportunities, and challenges.

Social Protection as a Component of Child Care Reform in Zambia

Irene K. Munga - Chief Social Welfare Officer, Department of Social Welfare, Zambia, 04 May 2016

This presentation from the Department of Social Welfare, given at the Zambia National Consultation to Accelerate Care Reform, describes the Zambia Law Development Commission and its work, discusses the need to integrate social protection with child protection to meet the needs of vulnerable children and families in Zambia.

Overview on the national child policy

Nicholas Banda, 04 May 2016

This presentation from Nicholas Banda, given at the Zambia National Consultation to Accelerate Care Reform, outlines Zambia’s vision for child policy, covering child survival rights, child development rights, child protection rights, monitoring and evaluation, and institutional framework and implementation.

Demographic Profile of Children aged 0-17 in Zambia

Zambia Central Statistical Office , 04 May 2016

This presentation from Zambia's Central Statistical Office, given at the Zambia National Consultation to Accelerate Care Reform, provides data on children in Zambia, including the legal definition of a child, how many are living in Zambia, where they live, and their living arrangements.

Zambia National Consultation to Accelerate Care Reform

Government of Zambia, Better Care Network, and others, 04 May 2016

The Government of Zambia, along with many other partners including Better Care Network, convened a National Consultation to Accelerate Care Reform in Zambia from 4-6 May, 2016. This resource includes the presentations and final Call to Action from the consultation.

A Presentation on Laws Relating to Children, Zambia

Andrew B. Mukuwa - Zambia Law Development Commission, 04 May 2016

This presentation from the Zambia Law Development Commission, given at the Zambia National Consultation to Accelerate Care Reform, describes the Zambia Law Development Commission and its work, provides an overview of the legal framework supporting child care in Zambia, and highlights potential or pending legislation related to children’s care.

Children in Families Zambia

GHR Foundation, 04 May 2016

This presentation from GHR Foundation, given at the Zambia National Consultation to Accelerate Care Reform, presents GHR’s approach to reforming child care systems, the multiple aspects of the care system engaged, and its underlying theory of collective impact.

Strengthening Justice and Welfare Systems for Children in Timor-Leste

UNICEF, 01 May 2016

This document summarises the results of an independent review of Strengthening Justice and Welfare Systems for Children project in Timor-Leste. The review focused on identifying change for children and the corresponding value of practices and partnerships that delivered this change.

The Orphan Myth: Keeping Families Together

To the Contrary - PBS, 08 Apr 2016

This special documentary episode of PBS’s “To the Contrary” explores the trend away from orphanages and towards family reunification.