This Guardian article examines Japan’s landmark legal reform allowing divorced parents to negotiate joint custody for the first time, ending a decades-long system that granted sole custody typically to mothers and often cut off the other parent from a child’s life.

This study compares posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) outcomes among adolescents affected by an earthquake, finding that those in residential care experienced more persistent symptoms and higher psychiatric comorbidities than peers living with families. It highlights the role of prior adversity—particularly physical neglect—as a key predictor of PTSD and underscores the need for further research to better support vulnerable children in care after disasters.

This review examines 43 documents on leaving care in Asia, highlighting limited research and significant gaps in policies and practices supporting care leavers. It finds that while some aftercare support exists, insufficient attention is given to young people’s physical and mental health, underscoring the need for stronger, context-specific policies and research in the region.

Over the past year, the Leadership Dialogue Series, hosted by Miracle Foundation India and India Alternative Care Network (IACN), has brought together leaders from government, civil society, academia, youth, philanthropy, and the private sector to reflect on how systems can better strengthen families and prevent the unnecessary separation of children. As they conclude the 2025-26 series, the 10th edition of Leadership Dialogues will focus on a critical question: How do we know if family strengthening efforts are truly working?

This article reviews 43 grey literature sources on care-leaving policies and practices in Asia, addressing a major gap in research from the Global South. It finds that while some aftercare supports exist, they are uneven and often overlook young people’s physical and mental health needs, with important implications for improving policy, practice, and future research.

This article reports on a new collaboration between the Catholic Church in Thailand and UNICEF to address ongoing gaps in child protection systems, particularly those affecting vulnerable and marginalized children in a context of persistent social

This article argues that poverty is a major driver of family separation in Pakistan, forcing many parents to place their children in orphanages or care institutions not out of choice, but as a survival strategy.

This study examines how mindfulness relates to psychological well-being among adolescents in orphanages in Pakistan, with a focus on the role of self-efficacy. Findings show that higher self-efficacy strengthens the positive impact of mindfulness on well-being, highlighting the importance of both factors in supporting adolescent mental health.

The 2025 BICON Conference Report captures the outcomes of the 6th Biennial International Conference, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 15–16 October 2025. It brings together key discussions, insights, and recommendations from across the conference, providing a clear direction for strengthening care reform and advancing inclusive, family-based systems for children.

This report examines the transition of young people aging out of institutional care into independent adulthood. It highlights how many care leavers face significant challenges after turning 18, including limited access to education, employment, and stable housing, as well as a lack of life skills and supportive social networks.