Positive family-and community-based care options include:

• Kinship care

• Foster care

• Supported child-headed households

If none of these options is feasible, small family style group homes may be an alternative if they are closely linked to the community and only used for children over the age of five and for short-term placements. Some adolescents may not be able to integrate into a new family and small-group home care or supervised and supported independent living may be an acceptable option.

Inter-country adoption may be acceptable where no appropriate form of family-and community-based care can be provided within a developmentally acceptable time frame for a child and where it is implemented in keeping with the Hague Convention on intercountry adoption. In-country adoption options should be prioritized.

All forms of care should be developed within the context of a care plan that addresses the best interests of the child and works towards family reunification, where this is in a child’s best interests. Placements should be closely monitored to ensure that they adhere to stringent standards of good practice, accountability and transparency. 

The Better Care Network advocates for the use of family-and community-based care, and its development where not yet available. The BCN recognises that international support may be required to assist in developing such alternatives in countries which are experiencing an increase in orphaned and acutely vulnerable children.