This opinion article argues that while Christian churches have historically supported orphanages and residential care as a way of living out their faith-based call to care for vulnerable children, growing evidence suggests this model is often harmful and should be rethought.

This World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) statement calls on churches, ministries, and donors worldwide to shift away from reliance on institutional care (such as orphanages) and instead prioritize family-based care for vulnerable children.

This UNICEF Bosnia and Herzegovina story follows the journey of foster care as a pathway to belonging for children who cannot live with their biological families, focusing on how stable, family-based care can transform a child’s sense of safety, identity, and future.

This article from The Kathmandu Post explores the recurring cycle of street children in Nepal who are repeatedly rescued from urban streets and placed into shelters or rehabilitation programs, only to return again due to deep-rooted challenges such as family breakdown, poverty, neglect,

This article highlights the launch of the House of Grace Child and Youth Care Centre in Grabouw, South Africa, a specialized residential facility designed to support young children with disabilities who are in need of care and protection.

This article describes how Pakistan’s heavy reliance on institutional care (such as orphanages) is both misguided and harmful, emphasizing that most children placed in these settings are not true orphans but are separated from families due to poverty and social pressures. It highlights extensive evidence that institutionalization undermines children’s emotional and developmental well-being and points to weak regulation and oversight of care facilities, which can expose children to further risks.

This article reports that the UK’s suspension of a key refugee family reunion pathway has left hundreds of children stranded and separated from their families, many in unsafe or unstable conditions.

This article describes how the FAMS economic modelling project in Australia shows that greater investment in early intervention and family support services can significantly improve outcomes for children and families while reducing long-term government costs.

This Guardian investigation reveals that the Trump administration arrested the parents of at least 27,000 children in its first seven months in 2025, dramatically increasing deportations and raising concerns about widespread family separation. The report highlights how these policies have disrupted families and warns of long-term emotional, financial, and legal consequences for those affected.

This article reports on discussions from the Global Technical Financing Forum on Early Childhood Development held in Kigali, Rwanda, where governments, UN agencies, and development partners explored strategies to improve and scale financing for holistic services for young children.