Child Care and Protection Policies

Child care and protection policies regulate the care of children, including the type of support and assistance to be offered, good practice guidelines for the implementation of services, standards for care, and adequate provisions for implementation. They relate to the care a child receives at and away from home.

States and all organisations with child care programmes should have child care policies which are in line with national legislation and international law, e.g. the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). In line with the CRC, emphasis should be placed on the child’s best interests, with support to families prioritised in order to prevent family separation. Good gatekeeping mechanisms are essential in ensuring families receive the services they need and are entitled to, and to guard against inappropriate placement into poor care arrangements.

Home-based care, day care, and other family support services are mechanisms for assisting families in providing for the child’s development and, when used appropriately, can prevent child separation. When a child is unable to remain at home, alternative forms of community based care should be prioritised, such as formal kinship care or foster care. The use of institutions should be highlighted as a last and temporary measure. All support and care provisions should outline the referral and admission process, the use of care plans, regular reviews, rehabilitation, and aftercare procedures.

Child protection legislation which recognises that abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual, or neglect, and may be carried out by parents, caretakers, children and other adults is required. All agencies working with children should have written child protection policies which respect the rights of the child. Policies should outline behaviours and actions which are unacceptable, provide standards for the appropriate care of children, and clear guidelines on what procedures to follow and by whom, including reporting mechanisms for suspected abuse to an assigned authority for investigation.

Child care and protection policies require resources and monitoring of standards to ensure their appropriate implementation. Adequate provision and training of child care and social work staff is required to deliver family support services and alternatives forms of child care. All staff working with children should be trained and supervised in providing appropriate care for children, identifying abuse, and responding appropriately.

The literature in this section contains country reports and examples of national and organisational child care and protection policies.

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Preventive Measures for Reducing the Placement of Children in Institutional Care - Croatia

Republic of Croatia Ministry of Social Policy and Youth, 10 Nov 2014

On 10 September 2014, UNICEF and the Permanent Mission of Bulgaria co-hosted a high level Lunchtime Discussion on The right of children below three years to live in a caring and supportive family environment: examples from Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.The discussion took place on the margins of the September meeting of the UNICEF Executive Board and brought together over 80 participants, including members of the UNICEF Executive Board, representatives of the Permanent Missions to the UN from the CEE/CIS region, international organizations, NGOs, high level UNICEF and National Committee staff. Representatives from Croatia presented on preventing institutionalization of children.

Joint General Recommendation/General Comment No. 31 of the CEDAW and No. 18 of the CRC on Harmful Practices

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women & Committee on the Rights of the Child , 04 Nov 2014

This Joint General Recommendation from the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is aimed at clarifying the obligations of States to these Conventions regarding “harmful practices.”

Child and Family Welfare Policy: Ghana

Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection - Government of Ghana , 01 Nov 2014

The Government of Ghana has established a relatively comprehensive legal framework for child protection, guided by the Constitution and the Children’s Act 1998 (Act 560).

Eliminating Discrimination Against Children and Parents Based on Sexual Orientation and/or Gender Identity

UNICEF , 01 Nov 2014

This position paper from UNICEF clearly states that all children have a right to a safe and healthy childhood, free from discrimination. This discrimination includes discrimination against children based on the real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity of children or their parents.

Country Care Review: Fiji

Better Care Network, 13 Oct 2014

The Committee considered the combined second to fourth periodic reports of Fiji (CRC/C/FJI/2-4) at its 1909th and 1910th meetings (see CRC/C/SR.1909 and 1910), held on 4 and 5 September 2014, and adopted, at its 1929th meeting, held on 19 September 2014, the following concluding observations.

Guidelines for the Alternative Family Care of Children in Kenya

Government of the Republic of Kenya and UNICEF, 01 Oct 2014

The initial goal of the development of these guidelines was to seek to regulate Guardianship and Foster Care of children in Kenya.

Country Care Review: New Zealand

Better Care Network, 29 Sep 2014

This country care review includes the care-related Concluding Observations adopted by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as part of its examination of the first periodic report of New Zealand (CRPD/C/NZL/1) at its 143rd and 144th meetings, held on 15 and 16 September 2014.

Provision of Alternative Care to Children Affected and Infected with Ebola in Liberia

Government of Liberia, 28 Sep 2014

This draft from the Liberian government outlines the protocol and guidelines for responding to children's care issues in the context of Ebola, specifically for the Interim Care Centers (ICC) for children who have come into contact with Ebola.

Annual Analytical Report. Republic of Belarus. Alternative Care of Children

2014 Transformative Monitoring for Enhanced Equity , 25 Sep 2014

Alternative Care Provision for Children in Bosnia And Herzegovina

Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 24 Sep 2014

This document from the Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina provides an overview and assessment of the alternative care system in the country.