Supported Child Headed Households

A child-headed household is one where there are no adult carers available and children live on their own. Typically an older child will care for siblings, cousins, nephews or nieces. Such a situation is increasingly common in areas with high AIDS mortality and regions affected by genocide or war.

Research has shown that there are a variety of reasons why a sibling group may live on its own. It may be the only way to remain together, the best way to retain the use and ownership of their parents’ land and home, or the only option available.

Some child-headed households are supported by extended family members and others are entirely on their own. A child-headed household may be extremely vulnerable, or it may have strong family and community links and living in acceptable circumstances. External agencies must consider carefully how best to support a child-headed household or whether an alternative care option would be better. Direct provision of aid by an outside organization has been shown to undermine community support to child-headed households, and some agencies have found that the best way to provide care is through community structures.

Child-headed households typically require support in order to ensure their access to basic health, nutrition, shelter, and education. They will also need legal protection in order to receive information on inheritance and property rights. Governments must consider how to ensure such services are available and how child-headed households can be supported in a comparable way to kinship or foster care arrangements. Any social assistance policy must take care not to encourage separation from adult caretakers.

Child-headed households are best protected when included in the community and its activities. Projects should not isolate children in such households and should work to empower them to gain greater control over their futures e.g. via education and vocational training.

The literature contained here gives an overview of the situation of child headed households in various settings, and examples of child care policies required in supporting them.

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Developmental Challenges Faced by Adolescent Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Chimanimani District in Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe

Vincent Chidhumo, Fortunate Zambezi, Pridemore Thondhlana, 22 May 2024

The study investigated the psychosocial consequences of poverty on rural Zimbabwean learners from child-headed households who are lagging behind in their learning. The study also aimed to generate recommendations based on the research findings.

Socio-economic supports available for the education of adolescent girls in child-headed families in the Kingdom of Eswatini: Policy Implication for Educational Evaluators

S’lungile K.Thwala, Christian S. Ugwuanyi, Chinedu I.O. Okeke, Ngwenya Ncamsile - International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 01 May 2021

The study sought the socio-economic supports available for the high school adolescent girl learners from child-headed families (CHFs).

Intergenerational Transmission of Poverty: The Role of Agency in Mitigating the Impact for Child-Headed Households - A Case of Zola, Soweto (South Africa)

Leonard Munyaradzi Agere and Marilyn Agere - African Journal of Social Work, 15 Aug 2020

This study explored child headed households (CHH) in South Africa.

Responding to Maternal Loss: A Phenomenological Study of Older Orphans in Youth-Headed Households in Impoverished Areas of South Africa

Busisiwe Ntuli, Ephodia Sebola and Sphiwe Madiba - Healthcare, 10 Aug 2020

The aim of this study was to explore how older orphans in youth-headed households (YHHs) experience and respond to maternal death and to examine the strategies they employ to care for their younger siblings.

Psychosocial deficits underpinning child headed households (CHHs) in Mabvuku and Tafara suburbs of Harare, Zimbabwe

A. Makuyana, S. P. Mbulayi, S. M. Kangethe - Children and Youth Services Review, 14 May 2020

This qualitative study used a case study design to explore the manifestations of the core psycho-social deficits associated with children domiciled in child headed households.

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Maternal AIDS Orphans and the Burden of Parenting in Youth-headed Households; Implications for Food Security in Impoverished Areas of South Africa

Ephodia Sebola, Busisiwe Ntuli, Sphiwe Madiba - The Open Public Health Journal, 24 Apr 2020

This study explored the parenting experiences of orphaned youth heading households in resource-constrainted environments.

Stop the War on Children 2020: Gender matters

Alvhild Strømme, Ewa Sapiezynska, Gunvor Knag Fylkesnes, Keyan Salarkia and Jess Edwards - Save the Children, 2020

This report delves into the differences between boys’ and girls’ experiences through a gendered analysis of the six grave violations of children in conflict, including recruitment of children by armed forces and child abduction. The report makes reference to the vulnerabilities faced by girl heads of household or unaccompanied and separated girls on the move and calls for interventions such as family tracing and reunification, the provision of alternative care for unaccompanied and separated children, and the release and reintegration of children associated with armed forces and armed groups.

2019 UNGA Resolution on the Girl Child

United Nations General Assembly Third Committee, 18 Dec 2019

The 2019 Resolution on the Girl Child can be found on pages 7-21 of the Third Committee Report on the Promotion and protection of the rights of children. The Resolution highlights several concerns and recommendations related to children's care.

Children and Families in Specific Risk Situations and Need for Support Services

Murli Desai - Rights-based Integrated Child Protection Service Delivery Systems, 18 Sep 2019

The aim of this module from the book Rights-based Integrated Child Protection Service Delivery Systems is to learn about the need for rights-based support services for children and families at risk in specific situations.

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Psychosocial Support Provision for Learners from Child-Headed Households in Five Public Schools in South Africa

Siphokazi Kwatubana & Mashuda Ebrahim - Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 17 Apr 2019

This research investigated the psychosocial-support provision for learners from child-headed households (CHHs) in five public high schools in South Africa.

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