Cambodia Holds Training on Minimum Standards for Child Alternative Care

The Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation organized a training on minimum standards for child alternative care at its headquarters from August 3-4, 2026. The event saw the participation of 72 individuals from child care centers, community-based family care programs, and family-based care programs from organizations in Kandal, Kampong Speu, Stung Treng, Preah Sihanouk, Preah Vihear, Kratie, Mondulkiri, Oddar Meanchey, Pursat, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Cham, and Svay Rieng provinces. Her Excellency Chan Haranvuddy, Undersecretary of State, stated that the training aimed to provide knowledge on the revised minimum standards for child alternative care, serving as a foundation for improving the management and delivery of alternative care services for children. She emphasized strengthening supervision, monitoring, and evaluation of the quality of alternative care services as defined by the minimum standards, to ensure the effective implementation of the 2024 child alternative care policy. This, she added, would contribute to resolving child protection issues and ensuring that every child lives in an environment of dignity, safety, and well-being, enjoying their full rights. His Excellency Um Sophannara, Director General of Social Services, urged for a spirit of cooperation and expanded collaboration among all stakeholders to promote child welfare and protection. He specifically highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation among relevant parties as a mechanism within the child protection system to ensure timely measures against actions affecting children. He encouraged the promotion of in-family care programs by prioritizing keeping children within their biological families, kinship care, foster care, and permanent placement, with institutional care being the last and temporary resort. He called upon all NGOs and associations providing alternative care services to strengthen the implementation of their programs in line with the Ministry's policies and minimum standards for child alternative care. Notably, care centers must register and apply for recognition from the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation in accordance with Sub-decree No. 119 on the Management of Child Care Centers. The process of admitting children into care centers must adhere to existing legal procedures. He instructed the heads and staff of public and NGO child care centers to share the knowledge gained from the training with their management, staff, and caregivers to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the minimum standards, thereby enhancing the quality of child care services provided by their respective institutions. The Director General expressed strong confidence that after this training, care centers operating below the minimum standards would strive for improvement, while those already compliant would further enhance their services, becoming model centers for others. Source: AKP Khmer