Our Vision

IFCO’s vision is that children in alternative care across the world would have the choice to live in family based care. We believe this form of care offers children the best opportunity to grow and prosper.

 

 

Our Values

IFCO believes that:

  • Alternative care for children should be child-centred and family focused
  • In all decisions about children’s care, the needs and rights of the child should be the primary consideration
  • Children should have a say in all decisions made about their lives
  • Foster and kinship care should be an inclusive effort by all, birth families (where possible and appropriate), foster carers, professionals and agencies, respecting the diverse contribution of each in the interests of children who are in alternative care

Our Goals and Objectives

GOAL 1

IFCO will advocate on behalf of children in alternative care so that all those children who need and want it, will have the opportunity to avail of family-based foster or kinship care.

Objective 1.1
IFCO, on its own and in collaboration with other like-minded organisations, will promote Goal 1 at the highest international level of government to encourage family-based care as the primary response to out-of-home children.

Objective 1.2
IFCO will initiate, support and disseminate research on care experiences and outcomes for children who are/have been in out-of-home care to inform best practice in this field.

GOAL 2

IFCO will promote the rights of children in alternative care to ensure the inclusion of their views on all matters affecting them as set out in Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Objective 2.1
IFCO will promote Goal 2 by consulting with children in out-of-home care in the development of its policies and practices.

Objective 2.2
IFCO will provide and encourage platforms at international level for children in out-of-home care to have their voices heard.

GOAL 3

IFCO is committed to engaging with and, where possible, to influencing politicians, administrators and professionals to support foster and kinship families and children in their care.

Objective 3.1
IFCO will develop and provide training and other supports for foster and kinship families.

Objective 3.2
IFCO is committed to engaging with and, where possible, to influencing politicians, administrators and professionals to support foster and kinship families and children in their care.