This report by Lumos Foundation documents and analyses the different types of care provided to unaccompanied migrant, asylum-seeking and refugee children across the European Union.

The aim of the report is to inform policy and decision making as well as to promote further funding for integrated, child rights centred, family- and community-based care for unaccompanied migrant, asylum-seeking and refugee children.

Research for this report was carried out within six countries in the European Union, selected based on several factors, including their position in the child’s journey along the three Mediterranean routes. These six countries were Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain.

Research was conducted around the following key questions:

• How is care provided to unaccompanied migrant, asylum-seeking and refugee children in the EU? (What are the commonalities and identifying features of the different forms of care and who is providing care in each country: asylum/migration authorities, child protection authorities or NGOs?)

• To what extent do the forms of care in the sample countries meet international and regional legal standards and policy guidelines?

• To what extent do unaccompanied migrant, asylum-seeking and refugee children have access to existing care services and national child protection systems, and how does their care compare with the care provided for national children?

• What are the promising practices in caring for unaccompanied migrant, asylum-seeking and refugee children in the sample that can be promoted across the region? What are the key features and requirements of these promising practices?

• What are the key challenges and issues related to reception and care of unaccompanied migrant, asylum-seeking and refugee children?

Research was carried out through Lumos Foundation's partnerships with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Key findings of the report include:

• There is an over-reliance on institutional care provision, without sufficient resources to respond to the needs and best interests of children, exposing them to harm;

• Many unaccompanied migrant, asylum-seeking and refugee children are falling through the cracks of the formal care response, leaving them to fend for themselves on the streets, or to rely on informal care arrangements;

• Intended temporary care may become long term in practice;

• Children often lack support and representation through guardianship, and avenues for participation in decision-making are limited;

• Unaccompanied migrant, asylum-seeking and refugee children often do not have
  access to existing systems of care and hence do not receive the same level of care as national children;

• Family- and community-based care, such as foster care and supported independent living, better meet international and European standards and benchmarks as well as children’s best interests;
• Positive examples were identified which demonstrate the willingness of many organisations and Member States to move toward family-based care and supported independent living.

The report offers 17 concluding recommendations to EU Member States, the European Commission and civil society.

The results of this research will benefit local and national authorities, EU institutions, international organisations and civil society groups in advocacy, policy making and improving the quality of care for unaccompanied migrant, asylum-seeking and refugee children.

Read the report in full here.