Brief | Child Wellbeing Matters: Improving Case Management Practice Through Research

More than one in six of the world's children lived in areas affected by armed conflicts in 2024. During a crisis, children are at increased risk of violence, abuse, exploitation, and neglect because family, community, and governmental structures that usually serve to protect children are put under immense strain and frequently break down. Adverse childhood exposures have long-lasting impacts on individuals’ health, development and wellbeing. Child protection case management is a critical response service in which a dedicated caseworker provides one-to-one support to children who are either at risk of or who are already experiencing family separation, abuse, exploitation, and neglect in humanitarian contexts. 

Despite advancements in the sector over the past ten years, existing evidence on the effectiveness of case management practice is lacking in emergency settings. The Child Wellbeing Matters study seeks to fill this gap in evidence by providing first ever evidence on whether and through which pathways case management contributes to child wellbeing.

The study was a collaboration between implementing and academic partners including the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Universidad de los Andes (UniAndes), and the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (the Alliance).

Watch the Global Dissemination of Study Findings webinar to learn more!