The State’s first responsibility to children is supporting the capacity of families to provide adequately for their children’s needs. When a child’s family is unable or unwilling to provide adequate protection and care or when a child is separated, the State is responsible for ensuring protection and alternative care. Such support is made available through a social welfare system, which may include services provided by the Government as well as those of non-governmental organizations.
The Assessments of Capacity to Manage Alternative Care analyze the ability of national governments to facilitate appropriate and comprehensive responses to children’s care needs and can provide a basis for reform and systems strengthening.
Each assessment evaluates the following at country level:
- Socio-economic context
- HIV/AIDS prevalence
- Child Protection Abuses
- Prevention of Family Breakdown
- Informal Family Care
- Formal Forms of Care
- Policy
- Legislation
- Social Protection
- Service Delivery
The assessments are currently in draft form. Assessments are also available on Zambia, South Africa and Malawi.
