Emergency Care Arrangements

The priority for unaccompanied children in an emergency is to reunite them with their parents, family members, or relatives as quickly as possible, in order to provide them with care and protection. Where this is not immediately possible, children will require emergency care until reunification is possible via documentation and tracing activities.

Emergency care should cater to the child’s basic shelter, security, food and health needs, on a level that is comparable to the local community in order to avoid encouraging further family separations. Children should be kept fully informed of efforts to locate family, and any interim care plans. All agencies offering care must follow and international standards, and coordinate with the local authority.

The preferred care will usually be with temporary caretakers from the community, rather than in institutions, since this provides continuity and greater protection. Children associated with armed forces may require interim care, if immediate family reunification is not possible and in their best interests. Spontaneous care situations, such as kinship, foster care, and child headed households should be screened, monitored and supported to ensure children are protected and their basic needs and rights are being met. In some cases an alternative placement may be necessary. Where family members cannot be located, a longer term care plan should be formulated, however adoption must only be considered after all tracing and reunification activities have been exhausted over a substantial period of time.

Support programs should include all affected children, and should not target or isolate separated children. They should strengthen the community’s natural coping methods and support structures, and will therefore include community and child participation in decision making processes. All placements must be fully documented to facilitate tracing and reunification activities. Reunification should be the immediate goal for all children, unless this is not in their best interests.

The documents in this section relate to emergency care guidelines and examples from around the world.

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UNHCR Guidelines on Formal Determinations of the Best Interests of the Child

UNHCR, 2006

Guidelines for when and how to make a decision regarding the best interests of the child in the case of emergencies. Includes useful information for addressing unaccompanied and separated children including, temporary and alternative care arrangements, tracing and reunification, and child participation.

UNICEF Technical Notes - Special Considerations for Programming in Unstable Situations: Chapter 4

UNICEF, 2006

Practical guidance on responding to the protection and care needs of children separated from their families, with sections on consideration of and arrangements for interim care, family reunion, and alternative long-term placements.

A Rapid Assessment of Children's Homes in post-Tsunami Aceh

Florence Martin and Tata Sudrajat, 2006

Examines institutional and family care in post-Tsunami Indonesia. Includes situational analysis, key issues, and recommendations.

Alternative Care for Children Without Primary Caregivers in Tsunami-Affected Countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand

UNICEF, 2006

An assessment of alternative care responses for children without primary caregivers in tsunami-affected regions of Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Thailand. Includes good practices, recommendations, and detailed country reports.

Alternative Care: From Prevention to Response

Alexandra Yuster, 29 Nov 2005

This presentation from UNICEF was given at the Alternative Care Workshop in Bangkok in November 2005. It highlights the links between alternative care and social protection in the South East Asia region and outlines a strategic plan.

Alternative Care Workshop Day 2: Summary of Group Discussions and Recommendations

29 Nov 2005

This document provides a summary of the group discussions and recommendations from day 2 of the Alternative Care Workshop held in Bangkok in November 2005 to discuss children's care in the region, post-tsunami.

Alternative Care Workshop, Bangkok 2005: Workshop on Indicators and Information System

29 Nov 2005

This document provides an outline of the Workshop on Indicators and Information Systems, held on day 2 of the Alternative Care Workshop in Bangkok in November 2005.

Alternative Care Approaches: Philippine Experience - What is Alternative Parental Care?

28 Nov 2005

This presentation, delivered at the Alternative Care Workshop in Bangkok in November 2005, provides an outline of alternative care in the Philippines.