Alternative Care

Every child

deserves to grow up in a family

with love and respect

Alternative Care for Children 

Alternative care (AC) describes an arrangement in which a child is provided full-time care by a caregiver outside the child’s/ young person’s family of origin.

We believe that, whenever possible, children should grow up with their biological families. Despite the best efforts of authorities and traditional safety nets, family breakdown is sometimes unavoidable. At such times, where they have lost parental care or are at the risk of losing it, children need suitable alternative care until their family's circumstances improve enough for them to return home. Children who no longer have a living parent require long-term quality alternative care to support them in developing into independent adults.

Our quality care puts their individual needs and best interests first and provides a nurturing and stable family environment. With strong and healthy relationships, each child and young person can grow up with the trust and sense of belonging that is essential for them to become their strongest selves.

Common forms of  Alternative Care (AC) 

Children and young people who have lost the care of their family of origin and for whom the responsible authorities have decided that alternative care is necessary.

 

In alternative care, SOS Children‘s Villages provides care in settings other than the child’s or young person’s immediate or extended family.  Alternative care services are offered for children and young people who have lost the care of their family of origin and for whom the responsible authorities based on the national legislation have decided that alternative care is necessary. The most common alternative care services offered by SOS Children’s Villages Botswana are family-like care, foster family care and supervised independent living arrangements. 

Foster Family Care

Supervised Indepedent Living

Family-Like Care

We promote and are guided by the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care for Children to which we made key contributions in the development process. In line with the guidelines, we draw on our wealth of experience to provide and support a range of alternative care settings, because different children, different cultures, and different situations call for different care options.  

Pillars of SOS Family Care: 

  • We provide care and education to equip each child to face life’s challenges in the future. 

  • We nurture a secure, loving and reliable relationship between the child and their parent or a primary caregiver. 

  • We work with community partners to develop strong social support systems for children and families to develop, grow and learn in a positive, supportive environment. 

  • We aim to provide the most appropriate care for each individual child.