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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The Child Protection System in Azerbaijan: Situation Analysis: Resources, Referral Mechanisms, Gaps and Risks Seen from a Child Rights Perspective

Cristina Roccella, 2007

Analyzes emerging protection problems and priorities of children living in Azerbaijan. Drafts a map of the institutional system related to child welfare at a national level.

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.

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.

Standards for Children's Home in Guyana

Ministry of Human Services and Social Security , 01 Aug 2006

A set of standards for measurable quality in service provision for children living in homes. Outlines the rights of a child, planning and legalizing children’s care, children’s home administration, management and staffing, and safeguarding child welfare while in the home, which includes nutrition, health, education and religion.

Orphanage Assessment Report

Sophie T. Parwon, 01 Jun 2006

Documents assessment of child welfare and protection of children in orphanages in Liberia.

Evaluation of Child Protection Projects in Georgia

UNICEF, 01 Mar 2006

Assessment of two recently reformed child protection projects in Georgia (Prevention of Infant Abandonment and De-institutionalisation (PIAD) and Family Support and Foster Care (FS&FC)). Includes detailed evaluation methodology and lessons learned.