First contact
Registration
Identification
Accommodation
First assistance
Age assessment
Family tracing
Relocation
Case assessment
Care planning Life project
Education and training
Work
Health care
Residence permit
Asylum procedure
Best interests determination
Identification of a durable solution
Implementation of a durable solution
Family reunification
Preventing Immigration detention
Turning 18: Leaving care
Aftercare
Ending guardianship
Care planning, life project
Like all
children in care, unaccompanied children benefit from an individual care plan,
which determines the care arrangements and services for the child. Care plans
set out a comprehensive programme for the child from the moment the child is
taken into care until the child leaves care. They help to ensure that all
measures and steps taken while the child is in care are in accordance with the
rights and best interests of the child and support the child in their
transition to adulthood and independent life. The implementation of a care plan
is reviewed periodically and adjusted in accordance with the evolving
capacities, needs and perspectives of the child.
A good
practice example, life projects are individual care planning tools, which aim
at supporting the child and the responsible state authorities and service
providers in planning and implementing a durable solution for the child, in
accordance with the best interests of the child. The objective of a life
project is to promote the child’s social integration and personal development
and support the child in acquiring skills and strengthening the own evolving
capacities necessary to become an independent, responsible and active member of
society. To this end, a life project pursues objectives relating to all the
human rights of the child in a comprehensive way.
Life
project planning should set in as early as possible and should be coordinated
with the process for the identification of a durable solution for the child, in
accordance with the best interests of child. A life project, therefore, does
not anticipate the decision on a durable solution for the child and supports
the child’s integration regardless of whether the child remains in the country
of arrival, is transferred or relocated to another state or returned to the
country of origin.
The
guardian represents the child and secures the rights of the child during the
care planning process, facilitates the child’s participation and ensures that
the views of the child are heard and taken into account.
See also:
Level 1: Child rights principles References:EU training and learning platform for guardians of
unaccompanied children
Chapter 1: Session 1.1. The human rights of the child
Chapter 1: Session 1.2. Understanding vulnerability
Chapter 3: Session 3.2. From arrival to durable solution: promoting the best interests of the child in decisions and proceedings
Literature:
Council of
Europe (2007), Recommendation CM/Rec(2007)9 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on life projects for
unaccompanied migrant minors.
Drammeh,
L. (2010), Life projects for unaccompanied migrant minors
, A handbook for front-line
professionals, Council of Europe, Migration Collection,
Strasbourg.
Family and Childcare Centre (KMOP), Defence
for Children International – Italy (2015), ‘Arrival’, in: Resiland
, Participation, capacities and
resilience of children on the move against trafficking and exploitation,
Orientations for professionals and officials working with and for children on
the move, Athens, pp. 29-43.
United Nations General
Assembly (2010), Guidelines for the alternative care of children, Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on
the report of the Third Committee (A/64/434) 64/142, 24 February 2010.