Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children. Save the Children Policy Brief

This policy brief by Save the Children introduces the background, goals, and guiding principles set forth in the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children.  It also explains why family-based care is a preferred care arrangement over institutions. It suggests policy and practice recommendations to further protect children without appropriate care and strengthen families and communities. The Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 November 2009, in honour of the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). They are designed to promote, facilitate and guide the progressive implementation of the UNCRC in this particular area of concern. Save the Children has been involved at the international level in the development of the Guidelines and at the country level in efforts to ensure use of the Guidelines as a framework for reform. This policy brief calls attention to the need to implement policies and practices regarding children in alternative care, and urges governments and organizations to make use of the Guidelines to focus on family environments for children without appropriate care, strengthening and empowering children, families and communities