News

The EveryChild Coalition on Children without Parental Care: Policy Advisor


The EveryChild Coalition on Children without Parental Care: Policy Advisor currently seeking a Policy Advisor to assist the Senior Policy Advisor in its research and policy development activities. This individual will be employed on a 1 year consultancy contract.

BCN Seeks Senior Coordinator


CARE USA is recruiting qualified candidates for the position of Senior Coordinator, a full time position housed within UNICEF Headquarters in New York, New York

International Rescue Committee Seeks a Children, Youth Protection and Development Unit Program Manager


Job Posting for Children, Youth Protection and Development Unit Program Manager

Deinstitutionalisation: A Clear Future Policy Direction for Europe


Event to launch two new reports on importance of deinstitutionalization for all persons

International Rescue Committee Seeks Protection Manager


Protection Manager needed for 12 month post in Iraq

OPEN WEBINAR: Fifth Global Partners Forum on Children Affected by AIDS, June 3-4 2011


PEPFAR, UNICEF and UNAIDS are pleased to invite you to participate, via webinar, in the Fifth Global Partners Forum on Children affected by HIV and AIDS that is taking place in New York on the 3rd and 4th of June

The Forum for Quality Foster Care for Children Solicits International Feedback on Foster Care Models


The purpose of the questionnaire is to gain insight into legislation and practices concerning foster care, in order to be able to use your model and the models of other selected countries as a basis for identifying best practices and analyzing your models in the context of Croatian reality.

13 May 2011: BCN Newsletter


A vital source of information for people working on issues related to children without adequate parental care

28 April 2011: BCN Newsletter


A vital source of information for people working on issues related to children without adequate parental care

UNICEF Headquarters Seeks Consultant for Review of Care and Child Protection Systems


The objective of the assignment is to investigate three case studies and determine whether or not there has been an impact related to the child protection system through working on the issues of prevention of unnecessary family separation, strengthening alternative care provision, and family reunification.

Call of Interest to Academic Institutions: Certificate or Diploma in Child Protection in Emergencies


Recognising academic institutions’ expertise in designing course programmes, their inherent capacity for developing accreditation, and their use of different learning methods, the CPWG Taskforce is seeking proposals from interested academic institutions on how they might envision working in partnership with the CPWG to develop the Advanced Certificate or Diploma in Child Protection in Emergencies

Technical assistance for the Revision of Comprehensive Social Work Standards for the Centers for Social Work


Terms of reference for consultant for UNICEF Macedonia for revision of social work standards

Request for expression of interest: Foster Care and Adoption Policy and Implementation Plan Design


Expression of Interest for consult to support implementation design for roll out of recent National Plan of Action for Ghana

13 April 2011: BCN Newsletter


A vital source of information for people working on issues related to children without adequate parental care

A Consultation on Definitions of Formal Care for Children: An Invitation to Participate


An invitation to the wider alternative care community to develop a working document of “common” definitions for the different forms of formal care mentioned in the UN Guidelines on the Alternative Care of Children.

SOS Children's Villages International Seeks Messaging Advisor


SOS seeks qualified candidates for a Messaging Advisor for their External Communications Department. Position will be located in Vienna or Innsbruck, Austria. Deadline for applications is 20 March 2011.

Terre des Hommes: Social Worker for Regional Protection Advisor Position


Terre des Hommes is seeking a Social Worker to act as a Regional Protection Advisor (RPA) for the organisation’s projects in Central and South Eastern Europe to be based in Bucharest, Romania for a period of two years with an immediate start

The Global Partnership for Children: Senior Consultant


The Oak Foundation, on behalf of the Global Partnership for Children, seeks a candidate with extensive international
experience, an advanced degree, at least ten years of relevant professional work experience
that includes technical and operational leadership as well as guidance and coordination
provided to key government and non-government partners.

UNICEF Ethiopia: Consultancy for Alternative Care in Management Information Systems


Under the technical guidance of the Child Protection Specialist, ADPH Section, the consultant shall work with the national alternative care inter-ministerial technical working group to develop an SQL/MS Access suite of applications Alternative Care MIS parameterized for national alternative care inter-ministerial technical working group and hosted at the Ministries of Women, Children and Youth Affairs and Justice.

UNICEF Ethiopia Seeks International Expert to Support the Development of an Inter-country Adoption Bench Book


UNICEF Ethiopia seeks a candidate for the development of an Adoption Manual for the Federal First Instance Court and Ministry of Women, Youth and Children Affairs. The consultant will provide technical support and co-lead with the national consultant to develop the Inter-country Adoption bench-book.

BBC: Haiti Earthquake One Year On: The Lost Generation


Almost 5,000 children are registered as having lost contact with their families - a list that has grown 60% since the earthquake. About a quarter of the children have now been reunited with parents or relatives, but most of the others will find themselves in orphanages. About half of these homesare not registered with local authorities.

Orphan's Doomsday Scenario Fails to Materialize


In 2004 the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) projected a grim future for the landlocked country as a consequence of the world's highest HIV prevalence rates - 26.1 percent of people aged 15-49 are living with the virus - but although the nation is struggling, it is managing to cope.

Consultancy to lead a Child Protection Knowledge Attitudes and Practices (KAP) Survey, Child Protection Programme


Save the children seeks child protection specialist to lead a Child Protection Knowledge Attitudes and Practices (KAP) Survey for a ten week consultancy

World Vision Seeks Civil Society Coordinator


Civil Society Project Coordinator: To generate and drive World Vision’s strategic actions to build a child welfare reform coalition in CEE/CIS countries.

20 January 2011: Better Care Network E-Newsletter


A vital source of information for people working on issues related to children who lack adequate family care.

UNICEF Ethiopia seeks Recruitment of Family Tracing, Reunification and Reintegration International Consultant for 6 Month Consultancy



Candidate to facilitate the documentation of an estimated 7,000 to 10,000 children in child care institutions; also provide technical guidance for the deinstitutionalization and reintegration of an estimated 900 children residing in 45 child care institutions in four regions.

30 December 2010: Better Care Network E-Newsletter


A vital source of information for people working on issues related to children who lack adequate family care.

UNICEF Namibia Seeks Consultant for Implementation of Foster Care Minimum Standards and Guidelines


UNICEF Namibia Seeks Consultant for Implementation of Foster Care Minimum Standards and Guidelines The consultancy aims to take forward the major recommendations from the 2010 foster care consultancy, namely to pilot the implementation of the foster care minimum standards and guidelines. Applicants should be submitted to Matthew Dalling (mdalling@unicef.org) and Laina Shatipamba (lshatipamba@unicef.org) by January 21, 2011.

BCN Netherlands Requests Feedback on Role of Volunteers in Care Provision Globally


BCN Netherlands Chapter requests feedback to their questionnaire on impact of volunteers on children in care. This review seeks to address how the role of volunteers affects child development and child rights and what impact does the influx on youth volunteers play on host community in terms of economy, community structure, child well being and attachment.

Social Work and disability Consultant for Strengthening Child Care Services and System


UNICEF Georgia seeks a social work and disability consultant to provide strategic input into the three year initiative ‘Strengthening Child Care Services and Systems in Georgia’.

Institutional Contract for Justice for Children Program


UNICEF and European Union seek a candidate for Institutional Technical Assistance for Improvement of the Normative Framework for Child Justice and Human Resource Development

UNICEF and European Union Terms of Reference for Child Justice and Human Resource Development


UNICEF and the European Union seek institutional technical assistance for improvement of the normative framework for child justice and human resource development. This Terms of Reference has two components: 1. Justice for Children Project and 2. Institutional and Human Capacity Building for ISA, CSW and child care institutions. The expert institutes are invited to apply for each of the components or for both components.

BCN Launches Better Care Toolkit for Child Care Practicioners!


Developed to support practitioners around the world in planning for and delivering better care for children who require an out-of-home placement. It contains a selection of practical guides and manuals, chosen as examples of good practice and for their global relevance particularly for low resource settings. They cover the types of policies required to support a quality care system, and practice guidance and tools for the delivery of alternative care.

Second National Conference on Child Abuse


Indian Council for Child Welfare, Tamil Nadu is organizing its Second National Conference on Child Abuse for Multidisciplinary Professionals in September 2010. The goal of the conference will be to enhance awareness on the issue, changes and developments in the response to abuse such as the setting up of the Child Welfare Committees and other mechanisms for rescue and rehabilitation of abused children, and above all far more reporting of violence against children. The conference will take place 16-18 September 2010.

Terms of Reference: Consultancy on Child Sensitive Social Protection


UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office seeks interested candidates for a consultancy on Lessons learnt within Eastern and Southern Africa programmes on scaling up child sensitive social protection.

Terms of Reference: Consultancy to Support the Strengthening of National Monitoring and Evaluation Systems for Protection and Care of OVC


UNICEF Eastern and Southern African Regional Office seeks interested candidates for Consultancy to Support the Strengthening of National Monitoring and Evaluation Systems for the Protection, Care and Support of Orphans and Vulnerable Children. Due date: 28 June 2010.

Terms of Reference: Interagency Panel on Juvenile Justice Secretariat Coordinator


The Interagency Panel on Juvenile Justice seeks a part time Secretariat Coordinator to be based in Geneva, Switzerland

UNICEF Seeks Consultant for Comparative Study on Decentralized Child Protection Mechanisms


UNICEF Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) seeks consultant to launch the first phase of a comparative study on decentralized child protection mechanisms.

Terms of Reference: Consultant to Develop Toolkit


Project Concern International seeks a consultant to develop a toolkit that enables primary and secondary school teachers and home-based care (HBC) caregivers to teach adolescent caregivers basic ways of caring for themselves and their young siblings.

The IV International Forum of Social Workers of Siberia and the Far East


The Russian Union of Social Workers and Social Pedagogues is glad to inform experts in the social sphere about the Fourth International Forum of Social Workers of Siberia and the Far East “Family of the 21-st century. Hope for the Future”. The Forum will take place on 18 – 19 August 2010.

Hague Convention Awareness Training Conducted in Addis Ababa


Ethiopian Womens Affairs Ministry and UNICEF hosted a training for all stakeholders on the 1993 Hague Convention. The training focused on facilitating ways for the adoption of the Hague in line with the laws and regulations of Ethiopia.

Call for Proposals for Social Works Institutions: Development of National Social Work Curriculum and Training System in Afghanistan


The National Skills Development Programme of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Afghanistan and UNICEF Afghanistan look to hire a social work institution for curriculum and training development.

BCN Special Listserv on Care and Protection of Children in Haiti


Compilation of news sources, resources and information related to children in Haiti with particular consideration for identification, tracing and reunification for separated and unaccompanied children.

BCN Special Edition Listserv on Care and Protection of Children in Hait


Compilation of news sources, resources and information related to children in Haiti with particular consideration for identification, tracing and reunification for separated and unaccompanied children.

UNICEF Statement on Child Protection in Haiti


Deputy Executive Director Hilde Johnson calls for all unaccompanied and/or separated children to be registered, traced and reunited with family where possible and appropriate. This includes children who were in alternative care, such as in crèches and “orphanages”, prior to the earthquake.

Preventing further trauma in Haiti!: International community call for use of International Guidelines to ensure maximum protection of children


Call for humanitarian response to uphold recommendations set forth in the Guidelines for Alternative Care in regards to care for children in emergencies, preventing family separation and promoting family based care in their community of origin where possible.

US Department of State Statement on Intercountry Adoption following Earthquake in Haiti


Statement noting potential dangers associated with ICA in emergencies with specific reference to risk of family separation.

Chief Executives of Save the Children UK and World Vision UK respond to adoption as an emergency response


Opinion editorial on risks associated with using intercountry adoption as an emergency response to the needs of children in Haiti

Miami Herald reports that Haitian community wants children to be cared for in Haiti


"The desire of the Haitian people, to the extent that this can be done, is for the children to be cared for in Haiti…That is their preference"

DEC member agencies call for halt to any new adoptions of children separated from their families after Haiti earthquake


Member agencies of the Disasters Emergency Committee are calling for international focus to remain on reuniting children who have lost their families during the earthquake in Haiti rather than adopting them out of the country.

UNICEF Namibia Seeks Child Protection Consultant


Consultant needed to provide technical assistance to map existing women and child protection services in five regions to develop strategies to provide integrated prevention and protection services for abused women and children.

The Neglected Agenda: Protecting Children without Adequate Parental Care Conference


Conference programme, background papers, key policy recommendation from 2009 Wilton Park conference event

BOOK PRESS RELEASE for Growing Pains: How Poverty and AIDS are Challenging Childhood


Summary information on recently published book on community strengthening in response to children needs in context of poverty and AIDS

Council of Europe & SOS-KD to Host Seminar on Children and Young People in Care


Call for participants for seminar at European Youth Centre in Strasbourg, 6-9 December

BCN Undergoing Impact Assessment


Consultant to assess BCN's work and influence in the realm of alternative care and the promotion of better care for children globally

BCN Call for Better Care Tools


BCN is collecting resources to be included in our new toolkit for practicioners supporting the delivery of better care to children and youth

Keeping the Promise: Unite for Children. Unite against AIDS Satellite Session


UNICEF, together with WHO, UNAIDS, UNFPA and WFP, invites you to the Mexico 2008 AIDS satellite session on "Keeping the promise: Unite for Children. Unite against AIDS". The session will take place on Monday, 4 August, from 6:30PM to 8:30PM in the Banamex Conference Center, Session Room 4.

Children & HIV/AIDS: Action Now. Action How Program


International Children & HIV/AIDS Symposium, August 1st & 2nd

34th Biannual Congress of the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW): Transcending Global-Local Divides


The 34th Biannual Conference of the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) is scheduled for July 20-24, 2008, in Durban, South Africa. This conference will focus on the theme of improving social work education and practice in an increasingly globalized world.

2007 National Adoption and Foster Care Training Conference: Shared Beliefs, Shared Values: Achieving Excellence in Adoption and Foster Care


The CWLA National Adoption and Foster Care Training Conference is scheduled for December 10-12, 2007, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The conference will feature workshops and information on all facets of adoption and foster care.

IFCO European Regional Training Seminar


The International Foster Care Organisation's European Training Seminar will take place November 18-21, 2007 in Malta. The seminar is aimed at participants from the EU, EEA, CIS, CEE & North Africa, but welcomes people from around the world. It will be followed by the EuroChild annual conference.

Adopted Children Immigrant Visa Unit: Announcement Regarding Adoption in Vietnam, November 2007


The U.S. Embassy in Vietnam points to poor regulation as the basis for denying intercountry adoptions.

Did I Steal My Daughter? The Tribulations of Global Adoption


A personal story about adopting a child from Guatemala.

In AIDS' Wake, New Family


Two families in South Africa absorb children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Their story.

Why Adopting in Guatemala is Getting Harder


Second only to China for Americans seeking children, Guatemala is tightening its rules on intercountry adoption.

First International Conference on Child Sexual Abuse in Africa


The first International Conference on Sexual Abuse of the African Child will be held in Nairobi, Kenya from 24–26 September 2007. The aim of the conference is to advance knowledge regarding the various types of sexual abuse and their complexity in the cultural settings of Africa.

The orphanage was taking our pictures and sending them to America


Josephine Morgan comes from a poor family. Her father, hoping for a better life for his children, agreed to an offer made by the head of an orphanage to take Josephine, her sister and her young brother.

Reform of the Child Care System: South East Europe Consultation


A resource site based on the first Regional Consultation on Child Care System Reform held in Sofia in early July. The consultation brought together 120 key social welfare delegates from Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, UN-administered Kosovo, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Turkey.

Experimental Apartment Declared a Successful Alternative to Orphanages


In Georgia, UNICEF and EveryChild have teamed up to place children in need of alternative care in small, supervised apartments as an alternative to orphanages.

MOZAMBIQUE: Foster Families Extend Charity Years After War


Emerging evidence from Mozambique suggests that children fostered after conflict-induced separation receive love, care and support from local families.

Adoptions From Guatemala Face an Uncertain Future


The United States expects to endorse the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, a multilateral treaty intended to protect children by standardizing international adoption procedures, later this year. Guatemalan Congress recently failed to pass a bill recongizing Guatemala's endorsment of the Hague Convention in 2003. Once the United States enforces the Hague Convention (anticipated early 2008), it will refuse permission to adopt Guatemalan children until Guatemala implements the treaty as well.

Adopting an Institutionalized Child: What are the Risks?


Dana Johnson, member of the Budpest Early Intervention Project and a speaker at the BCN-BEIP discussion day, addresses common questions concerning the adotpion of institutionalized children.

Orphanages in Southern Africa are Closing in Favor of Efforts to Reintegrate Children into Communities


Africa shifts to 'whole village' approach for the care of orphans and other vulnerbale children.

Lubuto Library Project: Bringing Knowledge and Enlightenment to Africa's Street Children


The Lubuto Library Project seeks to fill an important gap in services to vulnerable children in Africa by providing a bridge to schools and social services otherwise beyond their reach.

The Better Care Network Faith-Based Organization (FBO) Outreach Committee


The overarching aim of the BCN FBO Committee is to dialogue with churches, organizations, and leaders in the faith community for the purpose of gathering information about orphan and vulnerable children (OVC) responses already underway, to encourage increased OVC support in general, and promote better care practices.

South Africa: Research is discounting myths about orphans


"According to the first stage of our research, there is no significant difference between children, based on their orphan status," Quinlan said. Orphaned children are doing as well in school and engaging in the same level of risk behavior as their non-orphaned counterparts.

Joint Learning Initiative on Children and HIV/AIDS


The Joint Learning Initiative on Children and HIV/AIDS (JLICA) engages practitioners, policymakers, and scholars in collaborative problem-solving, research, and analysis to address the needs of children living in the context of HIV/AIDS.

UN Study on Violence Against Children


The UN Study on Violence Against Children has been launched! The Violence Study explicitly identifies children living in institutional care as being at high risk for violence. Chapter three of the report contains a sub-section on children in care and justice systems.

Government of Moldova Announces Wide-Reaching Changes to Childcare System


Moldova is set to completely reform their national childcare policy, practice and legislation, eventually replacing large institutions with child-focused, family-based alternatives. President Vladimir Voronin made an official announcement outlining the new strategy in May, 2006.