Standards of Care

Standards of care are approved criteria for measuring and monitoring the management, provision and quality of child care services and their outcomes. Such standards are required for all child care provision, including day care, kinship, foster and institutional care.

Standards should be concrete and observable sets of indicators which describe what good practice means in terms of outcomes for the child, how a service should be delivered, and the actions required by staff. They should be guided by the rights and best interests of the child, the preservation of the family, and the promotion of the child’s development.

Standards of care should be in line with national child care and protection policies, and reflect international standards for children’s rights. The development, monitoring and evaluation of standards should be participatory, and reflect the views of children and families who are using the services.

Standards should give indicators relating to all aspects of child care from the child’s physical and emotional well-being to staff and organisational procedures. This includes the child’s diet, access to health and education, and play and recreational facilities. Standards should outline the methods of care and control, and ensure that services are accessible and promote the child’s health. Standards should specify the rights of children to privacy, informed choices, dignity and respect. Standards relating to staff should include recruitment and selection procedures, regular supervision, support, and training. Procedural standards include the maintenance of records, respect for confidentiality, and accountability mechanisms.

The literature in this section focuses on examples of organisational standards for child care provision.

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Presentation of the Guidelines for Alternative Care of Children to the African Committee on Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

Presenters: Mia Dambach, Clare Feinstein, George Nyakora, 15 Apr 2013

Representatives from International Social Service, Save the Children, and SOS Children’s Villages met with the African Committee on Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child during its 21st session on 15 April, 2013 to present on the international Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children (UNGA resolution A/RES/64/142) and its new implementation Handbook “Moving Forward.”

Statement by Ms. Jennifer Davidson, Director of CELCIS on the occasion of the launch of the handbook "Moving Forward"

CELCIS, 11 Apr 2013

Statement by Ms. Jennifer Davidson, CELCIS & co-author of the Handbook on the occasion of the launch of the handbook ‘Moving Forward: Implementing the ‘Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children’ at UNICEF House in New York on the 11th April 2013.

Statement by Ms. Cecilia Anicama at the lauch of the Handbook Moving Forward in New York

The Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Violence against Children, 11 Apr 2013

Statement by Ms.Cecilia Anicama, representing the office on behalf of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Violence against Children on the occasion of the launch of the handbook ‘Moving Forward: Implementing the ‘Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children’ at UNICEF House in New York on the 11th April 2013.

Statement by Ms. Regina Maria Cordeiro (Brazil) on the occasion of the launch of the handbook

Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations , 11 Apr 2013

Statement by Ms. Regina Maria Cordeiro Deputy Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations on the occasion of the launch of the handbook ‘Moving Forward: Implementing the ‘Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children’ at UNICEF House in New York on the 11th April 2013

Country Care Review: Andorra

Better Care Network , 04 Apr 2013

This country care review includes the Concluding Observations for the Committee on the Rights of the Child adopted as part of its examination of Andorra's second periodic report at the 61st Session of the Committee held between 17 September and 5 October, 2012, as well as other care-related concluding observations, ratification dates, and links to the Universal Periodic Review and Hague Intercountry Adoption Country Profile.

Training Manual for Charitable Children's Institutions in Kenya

Republic of Kenya and UNICEF, 01 Apr 2013

This training manual has been developed with the aim of enhancing the capacity of Charitable Children Institutions (CCIs) in providing services to children under their care.

National Standards for Best Practices in Charitable Children’s Institutions

Republic of Kenya and UNICEF , 01 Apr 2013

This document was developed with the aim of assisting Charitable Children’s Institutions (CCIs) in Kenya to boost their capacity for determining which children need to be admitted into CCIs, how to provide adequate care and protection to the children and how to plan the eventual exit of the children back to their families and communities.

Identifying Basic Characteristics of Formal Alternative Care Settings For Children: A Discussion Paper

Better Care Network, Family for Every Child, International Social Service, Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages International , 16 Mar 2013

The discussion paper provides an overview of existing definitions of formal care within the UN Guidelines and a summary of the basic characteristics identified for each, together with explanations for the proposed characteristics.

Foster Care Services for Children in Moldova

Kelley McCreery Bunkers, 15 Mar 2013

This important assessment of foster care services in the Republic of Moldova explores the differences between the two main types of foster care services provided in that country, including in terms requirements and profiles of caregivers and of the children, the legal and policy framework underpinning them, including the legal status of the foster parent, as well as the allowances and benefits for each type of care

Application of the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children: Your right to live in a family and be cared for in all situations of your life

RELAF and UNICEF, 08 Mar 2013

This RELAF booklet, Application of the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, is a child-friendly guide to the Guidelines of for the Alternative Care of Children meant for children and adolescents to inform them of their right to live with their families and make that right a reality.