This Issue Brief addresses Alternative Care and the relating key concepts of: unaccompanied children, separated children, caregivers, family tracing and reunification, and child-headed households. The UN Refugee Agency is in a unique position to emphasize alternative care in its work.

This brief examines what UNHCR and partners can do in terms of developing policy frameworks, building knowledge and data, coordination, prevention and response, and advocacy.  Examples of the UNHCR and alternative care scenarios are given for both Yemen and India. This document has been produced specifically for use in field operations as a quick reference note.