Supported Child Headed Households

A child-headed household is one where there are no adult carers available and children live on their own. Typically an older child will care for siblings, cousins, nephews or nieces. Such a situation is increasingly common in areas with high AIDS mortality and regions affected by genocide or war.

Research has shown that there are a variety of reasons why a sibling group may live on its own. It may be the only way to remain together, the best way to retain the use and ownership of their parents’ land and home, or the only option available.

Some child-headed households are supported by extended family members and others are entirely on their own. A child-headed household may be extremely vulnerable, or it may have strong family and community links and living in acceptable circumstances. External agencies must consider carefully how best to support a child-headed household or whether an alternative care option would be better. Direct provision of aid by an outside organization has been shown to undermine community support to child-headed households, and some agencies have found that the best way to provide care is through community structures.

Child-headed households typically require support in order to ensure their access to basic health, nutrition, shelter, and education. They will also need legal protection in order to receive information on inheritance and property rights. Governments must consider how to ensure such services are available and how child-headed households can be supported in a comparable way to kinship or foster care arrangements. Any social assistance policy must take care not to encourage separation from adult caretakers.

Child-headed households are best protected when included in the community and its activities. Projects should not isolate children in such households and should work to empower them to gain greater control over their futures e.g. via education and vocational training.

The literature contained here gives an overview of the situation of child headed households in various settings, and examples of child care policies required in supporting them.

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Exploring Challenges of Adolescent Females in Child-headed Households in South Africa

T. Lobi and J. G. Kheswa - Journal of Human Ecology, 05 Jun 2017

This systematic review draws from previous research to provide a broad picture of the challenges of adolescent females in child-headed households in South Africa.

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Country Care Review: Malawi

Better Care Network, 06 Mar 2017

This country care review includes the care-related Concluding Observations adopted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Dealing with Children from Child-headed Households: How Prepared Are the Teachers

Newlin Marongwe, Reynold Sonn and Mabel-Wendy N. Mashologu - Journal of Social Science, 01 Jul 2016

This paper is the investigation of the level of teachers’ preparedness and their ability to deal with learners from child headed households (CHHs) in their (learners) academic pursuits.

Independent Living Literature Review

Retrak, 17 Dec 2015

Retrak has released a literature review on independent living programmes in an effort to understand the needs of young people coming of age on the streets.

Young People’s Experiences of Independent Living in Ethiopia

Retrak, 01 Dec 2015

This study sought to inform improvements in service delivery of Retrak’s Independent Living programme by listening to and documenting the voices of participants.

‘Staying Put’ for Young People in Residential Care: A Scoping Exercise

National Children’s Bureau, The Who Cares? Trust, Action for Children, Barnardo’s, Together Trust and the Centre for Child and Family Research , 01 Dec 2014

This report explores options for young people aging out of residential care (“care leavers”) and the potential challenges and costs of effective implementation of those options.

Guidelines for the Alternative Family Care of Children in Kenya

Government of the Republic of Kenya and UNICEF, 01 Oct 2014

The initial goal of the development of these guidelines was to seek to regulate Guardianship and Foster Care of children in Kenya.

Capacity Building Plan to Implement the Guidelines for Kinship Care, Foster Care and Supported Independent Living in Liberia

Government of Liberia, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare - USAID, World Learning, Save the Children, Maestral International, 18 Sep 2014

This capacity building plan supports the implementation of the Liberian Guidelines for Kinship Care, Foster Care and Supported Independent Living.

Roadmap for the Implementation of the Guidelines on Kinship Care, Foster Care and Supported Independent Living in Liberia

Government of Liberia, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare - USAID, World Learning, Save the Children, Maestral International, 01 Aug 2014

This “roadmap” document outlines the recommended implementation strategies and activities for strengthening family- and community-based alternative care in Liberia. It accompanies the Guidelines on Kinship Care, Foster Care and Supported Independent Living (the Guidelines) and the Capacity Building Plan to Implement the Guidelines (CBP).

Better Care Network Strategic Plan 2014 - 2017

Better Care Network, 28 Feb 2014

In 2013, Better Care Network (BCN) initiated an important process of developing a new Strategic Plan identifying the main strategic focus for its work over the next four years (2014-2017). The plan is based on an analysis of BCN’s achievements to date, the strategic areas in which BCN can have most impact in the future by working with key actors to strengthen the response to children without adequate family care.