CARE FOR CHILDREN

Care for Children's goal is to facilitate and influence a change in the way orphaned and abandoned children are cared for across Asia. Care for Children works with governments across Asia, giving them the knowledge and skills to start moving children out of orphanages and into local foster families where they can reach their potential.

We only work at the invitation of governments in order to make the greatest impact. Our strategy works because it brings about policy change at the top levels of government, as well as grassroots change for frontline staff in government-run orphanages. It produces almost immediate results while ensuring long-term sustainability, and transforms the lives of countless orphaned and abandoned children while costing the government less than their current care provision.

All our projects follow four key stages, culminating in the government taking full ownership of the work. We can then concentrate our resources on new projects in other countries and regions where the need is greatest.

While based on international fostering best practice and almost 20 years of international experience, our training is always tailored to the local context.

It was 20 years ago that Care for Children launched its first family placement project in China. What has been achieved since has gone beyond anyone’s expectations, with a generation of orphaned and abandoned children placed into local foster families, alongside the implementation of new and improved national policies, guidelines and legislation. In 20 years Care for Children has partnered with 200+ orphanages in China and Thailand, delivering 276 workshops and training over 5,000 people.

In China, by developing selected orphanages into best practice models of family placement across the country, the aim now is to firmly establish foster care as a positive and sustainable alternative care option in China’s child welfare system. In Thailand, having now trained all 29 government-run orphanages in best practice foster care, the challenge now is to raise the profile of fostering among the general public and showcase the difference it can make to the lives of vulnerable young people. In Vietnam, we are initially working in partnership with two orphanages, introducing them to the concept of formal foster care, prior to rolling-out our training nationwide in 2021. Care for Children continues to explore new project opportunities with governments across Asia.