Examines a large body of historical, anthropological, and agency literature relating to childrearing, family life, and substitute family care to arrive at common themes across different cultural contexts, with a focus on issues pertaining to separated children. The role of family is conceived differently in different communities, child fostering is a widespread child care practice in many parts of the world, childrearing typically is shared among a wide social network in some communities and exclusive parental care is rare, and child-child relationships may be an important protective factor for separated children. Interventions to assist separated children must take into account local conceptions of child development and existing child care arrangements, and interventions that contravene local practice can actually undermine traditional support mechanisms for children. Existing interventions need to be monitored and evaluated to determine to what extent children’s best interests are being met – a process that should involve both community members and children. In addition, further research into the importance of peer and sibling groups as support mechanisms for separated children could provide useful insights into the needs and functions of child-headed households.
