For Every Child A Family

For Every Child A Family

India Alternative Care Network

Every child has the right to parental care and childhood in a family environment. India has a significant number of children living away or without parental care or at risk of separation from their families. An estimated 1.5 million children in India are living in child care institutions. This number does not include children living in residential schools, religious and other institutions that are not registered under the Juvenile Justice (care and protection of children) Act 2015.

Our Mission

Facilitating the exchange of learning, dissemination of knowledge and formation of partnerships on the issues related to children without parental care or at risk of separation.

We are committed to:

Thematic areas we work in

Family Strengthening and Gatekeeping

All Children have the right to grow up in a supportive and caring family environment.

Non-institutional Care (Foster Care and Kinship Care)

Research studies across the world show long term adverse impact.

Transitioning Institutional Care to Family Based Care

Institutional care refers to the care, protection, rehabilitation and social reintegration of children.

Strengthening After Care

Aftercare can be termed as a preparatory stage for young adults.

Mental health and disability

The intersection of mental health and disability in children is a complex and critical area of concern, particularly within alternative care settings

IACN Governance

The IACN Secretariat is supported by UNICEF, India, and is hosted at Butterflies, New Delhi. It runs under the leadership and guidance of a Steering Committee comprised of practitioners and academicians with rich and diverse experience working on the care and protection of children in different contexts. IACN has formed three working groups to have an in-depth engagement on thematic areas around Family Based care and Aftercare.

Steering Committee

Working Groups

IACN Newsletters

Every quarter, IACN brings to you a newsletter disseminating the latest resources, research, tools, updates from our network members, news, case studies, and events and much more related to children without parental care or at risk of separation. Please reach out to us on iacnsecretariat@iacn.in.

Latest Resource

Some latest items form IACN Resource Library

IACN Publications

Some latest items form IACN Resource Library

Our Latest
Events

TOT - Global Transitioning Framework and Tools Training August

Unpacking the Concept, Framework and Tools of Transitioning Models of Care Services Webinar 3:30 - 5:30 PM IST 16th July, 2024

Submit a Resource

The India Alternative Care Network believes that collaboration and shared knowledge are key to improving alternative care for children across India. If you have any resource such as researches on alternative care (National or International), tools, SOPs, manual, policy briefs or nay any literature or IEC material related to the children without parental care or at risk of separation and that could contribute to the cause of the network, we encourage you to share them with us.

Join The Network

IACN invites interests from civil society organisations, practitioners, funding community, academic institutions and others who support strengthening the protection and well-being of children without parental care or at risk of separation.

The membership to the network is voluntary. The members are expected to participate actively and contribute to building a body of knowledge and learning on alternative care work in India. We encourage membership from organisations and individuals with a diverse range of experience of working on the care of children in different contexts. Please sign up below and become a part of the network.