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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'We are managing our own lives ': Life transitions and care in sibling-headed households affected by AIDS in Tanzania and Uganda

Ruth Evans, Department of Geography, University of Reading, UK, 01 Jul 2010

Explores the ways that young people express their agency and negotiate complex lifecourse transitions according to gender, age and inter- and intra-generational norms in sibling-headed households affected by AIDS in East Africa.

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Children and adolescents without parental care in Latin America: Contexts, causes and consequences of being deprived of the right to family and community

RELAF and SOS Children’s Villages International, 01 Jun 2010

This paper is based on The Latin American Report: The situation of children in Latin America without parental care or at risk of losing it. Contexts, causes and responses, which was prepared using reports from 13 countries in the region. The paper gives an overview of the state of one of the most fundamental rights - the right to parental care, a keystone for the right to live in a family and a community.

Legally recognising child-headed households through a rights-based approach: The case of South Africa

Hye-Young Lim - University of Pretoria, 01 Dec 2009

This doctoral thesis by Hye-Young Lim examines the laws around the recognition of child-headed households in South Africa, particularly in the context of HIV/AIDS.

Because We Care: Programming Guidance for Children Deprived of Parental Care

Elizabeth Oswald, 30 Nov 2009

Provides recommendations for World Vision and partner agencies on general alternative care principles and analysis of alternative care models.

Every child deserves a family: EveryChild's approach to children without parental care

Emily Delap , 01 Nov 2009

This document outlines EveryChild’s approach to the growing problem of children without parental care by defining key concepts, analysing the nature and extent of the problem, exploring factors which place children at risk of losing parental care, and examining the impact of a loss of parental care on children’s rights.

A Model for Community-Based Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children

Care International, 01 Oct 2009

This paper describes CARE Rwanda’s Nkundabana model, which mobilizes adult volunteers from the community to provide guidance and care for children living in households without adult support, and discusses lessons learned.

"They don't care what happens to us." The situation of double orphans heading households in Rakai District, Uganda

Nina Dalen, Ann Jacqueline Nakitende & Seggane Musisi - BMC Public Health, 04 Sep 2009

This article is based on information collected about the situation of double orphans who are heading households in Rakai District, Uganda.

"I Am the Mother and the Father" - The Experiences of Orphaned Children Caring for Children in Uganda

Magdalene Athanasopoulos - The University of British Columbia, 01 Mar 2009

This study explored the experiences of orphaned children who specifically take on the role of being both mother and father to their siblings.

Giving Hope: Asset Based Empowerment Methodology

Church World Service, 05 Jan 2009

This paper shares the philosophy and key components of the African development initiative Giving Hope that works with youth caregivers through an asset-based empowerment methodology. The approach facilitates the restoration of youth caregivers’ sense of self, belonging, power, and collective responsibility.

The Lives of Children Heading Families

Stories as told to Shimelis Tsegaye, ACPF, 2009

Developed while researching child-headed households in five Ethiopian towns and their rural surroundings, this book presents the experiences and stories of individual child household heads.