This research explores how the perception of “feeling like a family” impacts the quality of life for children and adolescents in residential care in Spain. Findings from both qualitative and quantitative studies show that shared activities, affectionate relationships, and supportive environments foster this sense of family, which in turn is strongly linked to improved well-being.

Uganda’s first mapping study on parenting interventions (2020–2021) highlighted the need for evidence-based approaches and clear delivery guidelines to strengthen parenting programming. In response, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development developed a parenting manual to harmonize stakeholders’ efforts, streamline programming, and strengthen families nationwide.

This study compares residential childcare workforce practices across programs in Poland, Spain, and the United States, examining recruitment, training, supervision, and performance monitoring. Findings reveal both shared priorities, such as upholding children’s dignity, and region-specific differences that suggest potential solutions and highlight the value of international collaboration to strengthen training standards.

This paper critically examines the international child rights regime under the auspices of the United Nations, highlighting its historical foundations, key challenges, and the role of global institutions in safeguarding children’s rights. Employing a qualitative research methodology, the paper also offers recommendations to strengthen the effectiveness of child rights protections worldwide.

This article presents an in-depth analysis of children and young people's engagement in Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH NL) influencing work over the past 10 years. It underscores the importance of integrating children's voices into decision-making processes to ensure systemic change and the sustainable protection of children's rights.

This book offers a comprehensive and rights-based legal framework addressing the unique challenges faced by children living on the streets. The book delivers a detailed analysis of international legal instruments—both binding treaties and relevant “soft law”—to clarify how they apply to such children.

This study explores how trust is built within the Mockingbird Family foster care model in Australia, based on interviews with children, carers, and care networks. Findings show that trust emerges through daily interactions, collaboration, and organizational and political support, rather than being a fixed trait. The study highlights the importance of relationship-centered, interconnected approaches to reimagining foster care.

This study examined factors influencing depression among adolescents living in orphanages in Central Aceh Regency, Indonesia. The findings highlight the need to prioritize interventions that strengthen social support networks, while also exploring additional psychosocial factors such as caregiver relationships, trauma experiences, and coping strategies.

India is advancing child protection reforms with a growing focus on ensuring children thrive in safe, nurturing families, supported by collaboration among government, civil society, communities, and families. Insights from the National Family Summit 2025 highlight how multi-level partnerships are driving family strengthening and family-based alternative care, while also charting a roadmap to overcome systemic challenges and sustain progress.

This study piloted a virtual trauma-informed caregiving curriculum, Trauma Competent Caregiving (TCC), to assess its acceptability and usefulness for foster and kinship caregivers in the United States. Despite high attrition, qualitative findings indicate that caregivers found the curriculum relevant and meaningful, though they noted challenges with time demands and called for broader access to similar evidence-based training.