Separated children and case management

1Unaccompanied and separated children

A separated child is separated from both parents or from their previous primary caregiver, but may be with another adult family member. An unaccompanied child is separated from both parents and other relatives and is not being cared for by any responsible adult.

Preventing separation is a priority: wristbands or tags for young children during movements, messages to families, gathering points. When a child is found alone: make them safe, register them with an authorised organisation, do not move them unnecessarily, and start family tracing and reunification (FTR). Adoptions must not take place during an emergency.

2Alternative care

While awaiting reunification, the child needs safe care. The order of preference: extended family or kinship care, then a vetted and monitored foster family, and only as a last resort and temporarily a residential care centre. Orphanages and large centres expose children to risks and complicate reunification.

Each placement is assessed, documented and monitored through regular visits. Siblings are kept together whenever possible.

3The steps of case management

Case management supports a child at risk or a child survivor, together with their family, in a structured way:

1. Identification and registration, with informed consent (or the child's assent).
2. Assessment of needs and risks, setting the risk level (high, medium, low).
3. Case plan developed with the child and the family.
4. Implementation: direct services and referrals (health, psychosocial support, education, assistance).
5. Follow-up and review of the plan.
6. Case closure when the goals are met and the child is safe.

A high-risk case (immediate danger, sexual violence, separation of a young child) is responded to within 24 hours.

4Best interests and data protection

For major decisions (placement, reunification, resettlement), a formal best interests determination is carried out, with a panel, listening to the child. For routine decisions, a best interests assessment is sufficient.

Case files contain highly sensitive information: they are kept under lock and key or in a secure system (such as CPIMS+ or Primero), using codes rather than names in communications, with access limited to those who need it.