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October 2024

Latest Updates on Children's Care

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New Research and Updates

Understanding the Situation

2024 State of the Social Service Workforce Report: The Social Service Workforce and Family Care for Children


This year's report provides a snapshot of the key trends and promising initiatives shaping the social service workforce. It zeroes in on a particularly important issue: the critical role that the workforce plays in ensuring children can always benefit from safe and stable family care—whether that be in their own family or through family-based alternative care, when needed.

Global Report on Children’s Care and Protection: Understanding and Preventing the Separation of Children from their Families


In this report, SOS Children's Villages and partners from 10 academic institutions from around the world, have researched the phenomenon of child-family separation and what can be done to prevent it. This research tries to fill a global gap of information regarding middle and low-income countries, the contexts of which are not well understood.


Opportunities of Care at What Cost: Findings from a Qualitative Study Exploring Care Leavers Experiences of Residential Care Homes for Children in Thailand


This article seeks to learn more about the experiences and perspectives of those who spent their childhoods in institutional care in Thailand and how they compare with international research on this topic.

When Numbers Demand Action: Confronting the Global Scale of Sexual Violence Against Children


This UNICEF publication presents the first-ever global and regional estimates of sexual violence against children. It narrates through numbers the tragic reality of sexual violence, amplifying victims’ voices.

Characteristics and Views of Young Unaccompanied Migrants Transitioning to Independent Living in the Catalan (Spain) Protection System


This article analyzes the experience of unaccompanied young migrants in the protection system of Catalonia (Spain) and their preparation for the transition to independent living. A survey with 90 unaccompanied migrant youths who were about to leave care was conducted.

Kinship Care: Birth Mothers’ Experiences of Having Children in Kinship Care


This paper highlights the experiences of birth mothers who have children placed in kinship care in the UK, focusing on some of the specific challenges they face. For many kinship families, these issues are also felt by the kinship carer. The paper sets out the need to do more to support kinship families - children, kinship carers and birth parents - to ensure children can thrive in safe, stable and loving homes.

Multi-Country Programme Evaluation Synthesis Report of the Childcare and Deinstitutionalisation Reforms from 2009 to 2022



This report presents the main findings, conclusions, and recommendations of an evaluation of the child care and deinstitutionalisation reforms in seven countries in the Europe and Central Asia Region (Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Serbia and Tajikistan). The report offers valuable insights into the effectiveness of child protection systems and the transition from institutional care to family- and community-based alternatives. 

Labour Migration and Mental Health of Left-Behind Children In Georgia: A Mixed Methods Study


Global migration is on the rise, and as a result, millions of children are left in their home countries while their parents migrate abroad. Little is known about the mental health of left-behind children (LBC) in Eastern Europe. The study addresses this research gap in Georgia, a leading migrant-sending country in the region.

Meeting the Challenges of Participation? Care Experienced People’s Involvement In Social Work Practice and Policy Development


This paper considers attempts to influence practice and policy from the perspectives of 15 care experienced people who had been involved in substantive public campaign work relating to children in state care and care leavers in Scotland and England. Participants shared their experiences of working to influence change and highlighted good and bad practice that they had encountered working with different individuals and organisations claiming to promote the views of those with lived experience.

The Philippines: Towards Inclusive Care - Assessing and Enhancing Alternative Care Opportunities for Children with Disabilities


The main objective of this assessment and report is to gain knowledge about children with disabilities without family support, or at risk of being so, and the alternative care arrangements available for these children in the Philippines.

“Unachievable Adulthood?!” – Exploring Family Formation Journeys of Care Leavers In China


This study examines the family formation journeys of care leavers in China, focusing on how they plan, navigate, and face challenges during this process.

Exploring Risk and Resilience In School Environments for Students In Kinship Care


This study explores risk and resilience in UK school environments for students in kinship care. Eight professionals experienced in working with students in kinship care and their schools took part in individual, semi-structured interviews. Interviews focussed on kinship students’ needs and how professionals perceive schools respond to those needs.

Localization for Early Childhood Development and Child Protection in Guatemala


This Collaborative Insights report gathers perspectives on strengthening ECD efforts from Guatemalan grassroots practitioners, national social movements, community-based organizations, international non-governmental organizations, donors, and the Guatemalan government.

What Long-Term Health Outcomes Can We Anticipate for Children Who Have Been In Social Care?


This global study explores the intricate web of disadvantages preceding children’s entry into social care, shedding light on the complex interplay between early-life adversity, cumulative disadvantage, and long-term health outcomes and the ways in which intergenerational studies can inform strategies for breaking the cycle of disadvantage.

Policies, Standards, and Guidance

Thematic Brief: The Role of the Social Service Workforce in Children’s Care and Care Reform


This thematic brief, developed under the Transforming Children's Care Collaborative, helps government policy and decision-makers understand the essential role of the social service workforce and how to strengthen that workforce in line with their national commitments to care reform and regional and global conventions. It includes high level guidance, recommendations and practical examples from diverse contexts for consideration when developing, supporting and strengthening the social service workforce.

A Lawmaker’s Guide to Stopping Orphanage Trafficking


This briefing book, prepared by the Inter-Parliamentary Taskforce on Human Trafficking, serves as a practical guide for legislators on how to--through a combination of global partnerships and domestic action--work together to educate, advocate and legislate to end orphanage trafficking.  

How Is Therapeutic Residential Care Constructed Within Key Policy Documents?


This paper reports on a national policy analysis in Australia exploring how therapeutic residential care (TRC) is constructed in policy documents. One hundred and thirty-two relevant policy documents were analysed to identify the practices and the conditions that facilitate the development of relationships and connections.

Policy Recommendation Report: Alignment with the UNCRPD in Sri Lankan Child Protection


This document produced by CERI presents the outcomes of an informative assessment and stakeholder interviews focused on the rights of children with disabilities (CWD) within Sri Lanka’s child protection system. The primary objective is to provide evidence-based recommendations to align the child protection system with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

Learning from Practice

Lessons Learned in Residential Care Institution Transition and Closure


The objective of this study is to document lessons learned from Family Care First (FCF) | Responsive and Effective Child Welfare System Transformation (REACT) members in Cambodia, as well as the literature from others working on transition globally, to create evidence-based recommendations to inform future transitions and closure of residential care institutions in Cambodia at scale. 

Good Practices of Foster Care for Children with Complex Needs: Findings from a Rapid Review of the Literature to Inform Programming in Moldova


This report summarizes international best practices of specialized foster care and provides critical insights and recommendations for developing and scaling specialized foster care in Moldova.


Kinship and Foster Care: Understanding Current Practice in Cambodia


This study was conducted by Family Care First (FCF), to enhance the understanding of common practices of kinship and foster care in Cambodia and identify gaps and good practices that are scalable to promote quality options for family based alternative care programs. FCF is a network of global organizations working together to support children to live in safe, nurturing family-based care.

Practitioner Profiles

We would love to learn more about your work as a practitioner so that your local, national and/or regional lessons and experiences in the field can be shared with other practitioners. 



Submit a Practitioner Profile

Organisational Profiles

If you would like your organization to be featured in the BCN Organizational Directory, submit a profile for review.



Submit an Org Profile


LifeStories: Impact of Infant Institutionalization - A 60-Year Follow-Up Study


This is a recording of a presentation Dr. Patricia Lannen, the principal investigator of the “LifeStories project”, delivered during a meeting of the Evidence for Impact Working Group of the Transforming Children's Care Collaborative on 2 October 2024. LifeStories is a 60-year longitudinal study of individuals placed in infant care institutions.

Philip Aspegren Shares His Journey Toward Family Care


"We cannot do this work alone. The church in the United States of America has led the charge globally to provide solutions to children that no one was willing to care for," says Philip Aspegren, the co-executive director of Casa Viva. 

Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of Human Rights by Persons with Albinism, Presents Her Report During 79th Session of the UNGA


Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, presented her report "Children with albinism and the right to family life" during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on 21 October, 2024.

Essential Investments for Family Strengthening and Prevention of Family Strengthening


“When we approach the family holistically and we use case management tools in matching challenges and problems of the family with the available tools then this will benefit the child,” Roman Zhukovskyi, World Bank Social Protection Specialist, shares learnings regarding the importance of social protection to enable care reform and the role of case management in ensuring effective social protection.

Learning from Africa on Kinship Care - Best Practices and Challenges


The India Alternative Care Network hosted this webinar on kinship care in Africa on October

Eight Countries Pledge to Ban Corporal Punishment in ‘Fundamental Shift’ for Children

Sarah Johnson - The Guardian 07 Nov 2024

New Zealand Offers ‘Unreserved’ Apology to 200,000 Survivors of ‘Horrific’ Abuse in Care Eva Corlett - The Guardian 11 Nov 2024

Violence Against Children Widespread, Affecting Millions Globally UNICEF 04 Nov 2024

Israeli Assault has Caused ‘Apocalyptic’ Situation in Northern Gaza, UN Warns

Reuters 01 Nov 2024

Decades in a Country He Can’t Call Home: South Korean’s US Adoption Nightmare Hanna Park - CNN 28 Oct 2024

At Least 43,000 Palestinians Killed, More than Half Women and Children, in War in Gaza, Palestinian Health Ministry Says

The Associated Press 28 Oct 2024

Trump Vows to Deport Millions. Would it Mean Family Separations?

Cecilia Vega, Camilo Montoya-Galvez, Aliza Chasan, Andy Court, Annabelle Hanflig 27 Oct 2024

Biden Issues ‘Long, Long, Long Overdue’ Apology for Indian Boarding Schools Nancy Marie Spears - The Imprint 25 Oct 2024

After One Year Of Conflict, the IRC Warns of the Life-Long Impacts for Gaza’s Children

International Rescue Committee 09 Oct 2024

Federal Lawmakers Want to Track ‘Hidden Foster Care’ Sara Tiano, Bria Suggs - The Imprint 08 Oct 2024



9 Dec 2024

Webinar: What Do Efforts to Care for Children with Albinism Tell Us About Disability Inclusive Care Reform? 

17 Dec 2024

Global Conference on Justice for Children Deprived of Liberty

31 Dec 2024

Caring for Children Moving Alone: Protecting Unaccompanied and Separated Children

31 Dec 2024

IDA Online Course on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

2 April 2025

Global Disability Summit 2025

31 Dec 2024

Keeping Children Safe Seeks Research and Communications Coordinator (Africa)

31 Dec 2024

Keeping Children Safe Seeks a Safeguarding Adviser (Africa)

31 Dec 2024

Keeping Children Safe Seeks a Child Safeguarding Adviser (Brazil Programme Lead)

31 Dec 2024

Free Online Course: Violence Against Children Prevention Essentials

05 Jan 2025

The Children's Institute - University of Cape Town Hiring a Research Officer

Ongoing

Online Course: UNICEF Child Protection Learning Channel


VISIT OUR LIBRARY TO ACCESS OVER 16,500 RESOURCES RELATED TO CARE AND PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN

GENERAL INFORMATION

Newsletter participants, currently 3,379 in total, work on issues related to the care and support of vulnerable children across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas. The purpose of the newsletter is to enable members to exchange information on matters of mutual concern. If you would like to share a document, raise a specific issue, request a newsletter subscription, or reach out in any other way to the Network, please send the information to us at contact@bettercarenetwork.org or visit our website at www.bettercarenetwork.org. 


Thank you!


Better Care Network | 521 West 146th Street P.O. Box 214, New York, NY 10031 - USA
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