Providing care for orphaned and vulnerable children can include a range of interventions and support to respond to the unique circumstances of each child. These interventions must consider the specific context and challenges that families and children face. Given that each child and family have unique challenges, the interventions needed exist within a continuum of care than ensure the child is provided with appropriate alternative care when necessary. At this point, it is important to learn about the many elements of a continuum of care for children in order to envision a new way forward.

Family-based care includes three core elements:

Gatekeeping: The formal process of assessment and decision making to determine if a child needs to be separated from his or her family, and if so, what placement will best match his or her individual circumstances and needs. It prioritizes family preservation and alternative family care and is used to prevent the inappropriate placement of children into residential care. For children transitioning out of residential care, gatekeeping procedures are used to determine the best placement option.

Family Strengthening: Programs and services that help prevent separation by equipping birth, foster, and adoptive families with the resources they need for children to thrive. These include education, health, and economic services such as microloans and livelihood support; parent education and support groups; early childhood programs and daycare; respite care; and special needs services.

Alternative Care: A range of care options that are carefully matched to each child’s best interests, including reintegration into a child’s birth family, care within a child’s extended family or kinship care, foster care, and adoption. While priority is given to safe and permanent family care, supported independent living, smaller group homes, and temporary transitional residential care may also be included in the continuum of care.