This booklet on standards of care in child care institutions is part of a Series on Alternative Care, containing four booklets: Standards of Care in Child Care Institutions, Foster Care, Adoption and Aftercare. These booklets cover the latest legal and policy framework on Alternative Care in India, which has been presented in an easy-to-understand style so that they can be used as an effective reference material by all the stakeholders. All the four booklets in the Series have been updated according to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules, 2016, and the latest guidelines on foster care and adoption issued by the Government of India. The relevant provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children (UNGACC) 2009 have also been kept in view while preparing the booklets.
The booklets contain no complicated legal jargons. The purpose is to make people in the field of child protection comprehend the scope and basic facts on the four thematic areas. All the four booklets follow a similar style of presentation, first introducing the concept, then a chapter on legal and policy instruments, followed by a chapter on practices in India and some other select countries. Each booklet also has a listing of references for those who are interested in further reading on the given subject.
These booklets have been written for child care practitioners, those working in the government offices, members of District Child Protection Units, Child Welfare Committees and Juvenile Justice Boards, social workers, caregivers, staff and management at child care institutions, State agencies as well as by beginners and volunteers in the field of Alternative Care. However, it is pertinent to note that the booklets are not the replacement of any law. For any further understanding of the law, reading of relevant Acts and Rules are strongly recommended.
