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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Expanding the Social Security Net in South Africa: Opportunities, Challenges, and Constraints

Kalie Pauw and Liberty Mncube, 2007

Examines constraints to expansion of the social welfare net in South Africa. Cites substitution taking place within the social budget since education and health expenditures have already declined in favour of increased welfare transfer expenditures.

Children Without Parental Care in the Caribbean

Patricia Lim Ah Ken, 2007

A regional assessment of responses to children outside parental care in the Caribbean. Extensive research on successful examples of alternative care. Includes recommendations and lessons learned.

Globalisation and Child Welfare: Some Lessons From A Cross-National Study of Children in Out-of-Home Care

June Thoburn, 2007

Outlines differences between children in need of welfare services across apparently similar regions/countries/states.

Study to Map and Define roles and responsibilities for Civil Society in national HIV/AIDS responses in Eastern and Southern Africa

UNICEF, HACI, WCRP, 2007

This study commissioned by UNICEF, Hope for African Children Initiative (HACI), and World Conference on Religions and Peace (WCRP) maps and defines roles and responsibilities for Civil Society in the expanded national HIV/AIDS responses. The report pays particular attention to the protection, care and support of orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Advocacy Strategy for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children 2007 - 2010

Uganda Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, 2007

An advocacy strategy to increase support for orphans and OVC in Uganda.

De-institutionalising and Transforming Children's Services: A Guide to Good Practice

Georgette Mulheir & Kevin Browne, 2007

This good practice guide provides a comprehensive description of the steps involved in the process of moving from institutional care to community-based services.

The Challenges of El Salvador's Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, Red Solidaria

Tatiana Feitosa de Britto, International Poverty Centre, 2007

Provides analysis of the historical background and current structure of El Salvador's conditional cash transfer programme with attention to family integration

Advocacy with and for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children: Findings from Qualitative Research in Uganda

Uganda Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and CORE Initiative, 2007

This study identifies key issues that need to be addressed in order to raise the profile of OVC and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development in Uganda.

An Assessment of Intercountry Adoption Laws, Policies and Practices in Liberia

UNICEF and Holt International, 2007

This report presents the findings of an assessment conducted between 8 July and 22 August 2006 that gathered and analyzed information on inter-country adoption to support strengthening Liberia’s adoption laws and develop operating guidelines for adoption agencies.

Enhanced Protection for Children Affected by AIDS: A Companion Paper to The OVC Framework

UNICEF, 31 Dec 2006

Outlines how to strengthen social protection, legal protection, and alternative care for children at country level. Contains specific actions that governments and NGO's can take to decrease the vulnerability of children affected by AIDS and respond to instances of abuse, exploitation and neglect.