Socio-Psychological Factors and Parents' Attitudes toward Fostering Children in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Helen Ama Umana

This study examines how socio-psychological factors influence parents’ attitudes toward fostering children in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, using a correlational design and survey data from parents in urban and rural communities. Findings show that family communication patterns and disciplinary beliefs significantly predict positive attitudes toward fostering, highlighting the need for sensitization and education initiatives led by government and social welfare organizations.

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Reconceptualizing rehabilitation: Institutional care and empowerment of street girls in Pakistan

Ms. Aaleen Khattak, Dr. Shakeel Ahmed, Mr. Sohail Ahmad, and Mr. Ijaz Muhammad Khan

This study examines whether institutional rehabilitation for street girls in Pakistan is genuinely transformative by assessing services at the Zamung Kor Model Institute through a gender- and child-centred lens. While findings show improvements in safety, emotional regulation, and educational engagement, persistent gaps in trauma-informed care, vocational pathways, and post-discharge support highlight the need to reconceptualize rehabilitation as a continuous, community-linked process.

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Challenges Facing Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Zimbabwe

John Ringson

This book explores the challenges facing orphans and vulnerable children in Zimbabwe within the broader context of the Global South, highlighting how poverty, inequality, HIV/AIDS, and economic instability deepen children’s vulnerability. Drawing on Ubuntu philosophy, neoliberalism, and African Renaissance perspectives, it underscores the importance of community-led, culturally sensitive, and African-driven approaches to inform policy and practice supporting OVCs.

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Kinship care as living law – an unwritten source of child protection law

Dr. Lilla Garayová

This article examines kinship care as an unwritten but legally significant source of child protection law, drawing on concepts of living law to show how informal caregiving practices operate across diverse legal and cultural contexts yet remain largely invisible within formal legal systems. Using comparative analysis from Europe and the Global South, it highlights both the strengths and risks of informal kinship care and calls for a child-centred, legally pluralistic approach to better align community norms with state and international law.

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Co-producing research into kinship care: A report into opportunities and challenges

Professor Judith Harwin, Clare Walsh, Anam Raja, et. al

This report examines opportunities and challenges in co-producing research on kinship care, highlighting the need to involve carers as equal partners rather than treating them solely as research subjects. Drawing on a study conducted between 2022 and 2025 and accompanied by a practical toolkit, it emphasizes inclusive approaches that leverage kinship carers’ lived experiences to produce research relevant to policy and practice across all types of kinship care.

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India’s Child Protection Framework: Achievements, Shortcomings and Roadmap for Reform

Dr. Uttam Kumar Panda and Ms. Sanya Kumar

This paper critically examines India’s child protection framework, highlighting that despite comprehensive legislation like the JJ Act, POCSO, and programs such as Mission Vatsalya, systemic gaps in implementation, funding, institutional capacity, and data collection leave millions of children—particularly those in Child Care Institutions (CCIs)—vulnerable to abuse, neglect, and child marriage.

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Reimagining Family Support Services : Perspectives from Kinship Caregivers

Shari Monsma, Gail Molliet, Barbara Lee, et. al

This report presents findings from a 2022 consultation with kinship caregivers across British Columbia, highlighting their experiences navigating children and family services. Analysis revealed the need for recognition and respect for kinship families, improved access to consistent and equitable supports, trauma-informed and culturally grounded practices, and stronger collaboration with service providers, with caregivers’ calls for action emphasizing system improvements to sustain caregiving and promote children’s well-being.

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Perceived Supports and Barriers in Transitioning to Adulthood From Alternative Care: A Multinational Study of 962 Adults With Care Experience

Amanda Hiles Howard, Megan Roberts, Peter K. Muthu, et. al

This study examines the experiences of 962 care-experienced adults from over 20 countries, focusing on the supports and barriers they encountered transitioning to adulthood after separation from parental care. Findings highlight the critical roles of supportive relationships, mental health and resilience, and access to education and resources, while also noting how financial hardship and limited services hinder successful transitions, informing recommendations for strengthened support systems.

Evaluating Caregivers-Orphans Relationship and State of Shelter in The Selected Orphanages of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Dr. Amir Alam, Dr. Sajjad Hussain, and Subhan Ullah

This study evaluates the shelter conditions and caregiver–orphan relationships in orphanages in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Findings indicate that while most orphans are satisfied with basic shelter, their relational and developmental needs are often unmet, highlighting the need for well-trained residential care staff and the recommendation that institutional care be used only as a last resort to support successful reintegration into communities.

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