THE GUIDELINES FOR THE ALTERNATIVE CARE OF CHILDREN Standards and principles for children without, or at risk of losing, parental care

Transcription

1 THE GUIDELINES FOR THE ALTERNATIVE CARE OF CHILDREN Standards and principles for children without, or at risk of losing, parental care >

2 Content A brief history of the Guidelines Key Standards & Principles The UN Convention & the Guidelines Best interests - case-by-case decision-making Necessity & Appropriate individualised care responses General conditions - formal care What about informal care options? Care System, Quality and Impact Strategic system reform and the range of care options Training and Development External impact & internal implications for SOS Children s Villages Quality Care Counts the child s right to quality care!

3 Key Rights and Principles The Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 3 best interests of the child Art.18 & 27 appropriate support and standard of living Article 9 decision making processes Article 20 appropriate care settings Article 25 regular review of the situation Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children Case-by case responses family and children Formal vs. Informal Care Is it necessary to take the child into care? Is the setting appropriate (quality individualised care) and from a range of possible options?

4 NECESSITY? The Principle of NECESSITY Clear preventative role strengthen families Promoting parental care Empowering agenda to strengthen carers Attitude, Skills, Capacities and Tools Preventing family separation Criteria based assessment of risk and options Right to appeal decisions Promoting family reintegration Maintaining family contact Planned and gradual process

5 SUITABLE? The Principle of SUITABILITY Case-by-case decision in best interests Rigorous and participatory assessment Fully informed Right of appeal Informal vs. formal care options Regular review (placement or reunification) Promoting stability (caring relationships?) Individualised care and attention

6 General Conditions (i) Child rights information not just rules and regulations A person of trust access to impartial complaints procedure Interdependent child rights Education formal and vocational Health nutrition and access to services Personal identity Privacy Informed participation

7 General Conditions (ii) Violence against children Physical and psychological Prohibited and punishable De-escalation and the appropriate use of restraint Leaving Care preparation and support Well timed and tailored plan Full consultation and participation Education, Training, Employment and Housing Dedicated person to support leaving/after care

8 Care system reform & carer capacity Care System Reform (more than De-I) Develop alternatives (a systems approach) Kinship and extended family Formal fostering Small group residential Range of appropriate options (not a hierarchy) To ensure case-specific responses Caregivers selection and capacities Selection procedures thorough and extensive Background checks, Suitability (a vocational commitment)! Specific training on, for example Child rights Childhood vulnerability and special needs Non-violent conflict resolution Appropriate use of physical restraint

9 Impact in National Contexts Legislation - Belarus, also Mongolia, Bhutan Policy - Armenia, also Thailand, Syria Standards - Namibia, also Vietnam, Turkey Services Mexico, also Croatia, Syria Impact Advocacy opportunities for our NAs Translations e.g. Georgia, Italy, Bosnia Technical Expert Group Kenya Care Standards Tanzania, Benin & Togo Coalition-Building Albania Youth-Friendly Version in Russian (IYC I Matter)

10 International Advocacy The Guidelines - an advocacy tool? Linking the national to the international? UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Concluding Observations and Day of General Discussion Human Rights Council (HRC) Resolutions and Annual Child Rights Day Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Dialogue and Recommendations

11 Implications The Guidelines and SOS Children s Villages? Adopted by the International Senate a framework for reflection Children s Village Programme Policy in line with the Guidelines Families First links to Guidelines principles and provisions Quality Management processes and practices in line?

12 Quality Care Counts SOS Children s Villages believes that every child should grow in a loving family environment, with consistent caregivers, with siblings, and in a place they can call home Every individual child has the right to quality care For us, the right to quality care is what all children are entitled to no matter where they grow up (family and alternative care).

13 Content of the Publication Chapter 1: Defines SOS Children s Villages understanding of the child s right to quality care illustrating why current responses often fall short Chapter 2: Explains how we derive the child s right to quality care from the UNCRC and the UN Guidelines emphasising the need for individualised care and positive, caring relationships. Chapter 3: Describes the work of SOS Children s Villages, providing examples of how service providers can work to meet the child s right to quality care through: Strengthening families Providing quality care in emergencies Managing quality Advocating child rights and care systems reforms Chapter 4: A call to action to reform welfare and care systems Ultimate aim is to guarantee the conditions for all children to enjoy positive, caring, loving relationships (in all settings).

14 Use of the Publication Internally to: Promote child rights-based approaches in our work Link our work to external frameworks including: The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child The UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children Inspire professional reflection on how we do what we do Promote the role of advocacy as a complement to direct service provision and capacity-building Externally to: Position SOS Children s Villages as implementing quality care with children and families Position SOS Children s Villages as an advocate for child rights and quality care Demonstrate our commitment to the UNCRC and the UN Guidelines Build partnerships for care system reform (UNICEF and NGOs)

15 Quality Care Counts Core ideas the Child s Right to Quality Care Founded on CRC, Guidelines and SOS Children s Villages expertise Reform of systems and settings Implementing quality standards Promoting positive loving relationships GUARANTEEING the child s right to quality care through individualised, case-by-case, responses tailored in the best interests of the child in families of origin or any form of alternative care.