What is Family Care?
Family-based care focuses on ensuring children grow up in safe, stable, and nurturing relationships. This can include strengthening families so children can remain at home, or developing alternative family care options when needed.
These approaches build on the belief that children thrive best when they are known, supported, and connected.
10 Strategies Making a Difference
Around the world, organizations and communities are working together to strengthen families and prevent unnecessary separation. These strategies reflect practical ways to support children and caregivers—addressing both immediate needs and long-term stability.
Each approach plays a role in creating stronger, more sustainable care systems.
Care Ecosystem
Supporting children well requires more than one solution. It involves families, communities, and broader systems all working together to create environments where children can thrive.
By strengthening each layer of support, we can help ensure that families are better equipped, communities are more connected, and children have the stability they need for the future.
Alternative Family Care
While strengthening families is always a priority, there are situations where children are unable to safely remain at home. In these cases, developing strong alternative family care options becomes essential.
This can include foster care, kinship care with extended family, and other family-based arrangements that provide children with stability, consistency, and a sense of belonging.
We recognize that building these systems takes time, training, and support. Our role is to come alongside care providers and communities as they explore and develop these options—ensuring that every child has access to safe and appropriate care when needed.
Strengthening Community Support
Long-term, sustainable care for children is closely connected to the strength of the communities around them. When families have access to support, resources, and meaningful connection, they are better equipped to care for their children and navigate difficult circumstances.
Empowering communities means working alongside local leaders, organizations, and support networks to address the challenges families face—while also building on the strengths that already exist.
By strengthening these local systems of support, we can help reduce unnecessary family separation and create environments where children and families can thrive together over time.
How We Support Family-Based Care
Building strong systems of care takes collaboration. Families, care providers, churches, community organizations, and government agencies all have important roles to play.
At Fortifying Families of Indonesia, our role is to come alongside those already serving children and families—offering training, resources, consultation, and opportunities for collaboration.
We work to strengthen family support systems, encourage the development of alternative family care options, and help communities build networks of care that allow children to grow up in safe, stable, and nurturing relationships.
Rather than bringing outside solutions, we seek to support and equip local leaders as they develop approaches that fit their communities and culture.
How You Can Help
Meaningful change happens when people work together. Whether you are a care provider, church leader, donor, advocate, or simply someone who cares about the well-being of children and families, there is a role for you to play.
By learning, sharing, supporting local organizations, and investing in family-centered solutions, we can help create stronger systems of care for future generations.
We invite you to explore ways to partner with us as we work alongside Indonesian communities to strengthen families and support children.
With gratitude: Some graphics featured on this page are adapted or shared with permission from Faith to Action Initiative, whose work has contributed meaningfully to conversations around children and family care.