This article from UNICEF Innocenti announces the launch of a global research initiative to advance evidence, innovation, and policy solutions for children who lack appropriate family care — especially in low‑ and middle‑income countries. It underscores the importance of safe, nurturing family environments for child development, highlights the widespread reliance on institutional care despite evidence of its harm, and outlines how the project will combine global evidence review, country‑level analysis, and participatory research to shape an inclusive, child‑centred agenda for care reform.