What Better Care Network does

Better Care Network (BCN) is a US-based non-profit interagency network, founded in 2003 and operating as a project of the Tides Center, that facilitates global information exchange and collaboration on issues affecting children without adequate family care. The organization serves as a global knowledge hub for practitioners, governments, NGOs, international bodies (including UNICEF and Save the Children), and faith-based organizations, providing free access to research, tools, technical guidance, and country-specific data on children's care reform.

BCN's core product is a web-based platform (bettercarenetwork.org) organized across thematic libraries — strengthening family care, social welfare systems, the continuum of care, principles of good care practices, particular threats to children's care, and children's care in emergencies. Notable platform components include the Country Care Snapshots (interactive data dashboards covering 21 countries), the Practitioner Hub, the COVID-19 Resource Center, the Ukraine Response Hub, and the Transition Hub for systems reform. The platform is multilingual (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese) and is supported by an active newsletter, social media presence, and a program of regional and international conferences. BCN also leads or co-leads several initiatives, including the ReThink Orphanages coalition, the Transforming Children's Care Collaborative, the Faith to Action Initiative (which spun off as an independent entity in 2008), and the Global Campaign on Children's Care Reform.

BCN does not operate a commercial revenue model. The organization is funded through donor grants and partnerships with foundations and government agencies (GHR Foundation, USAID, Firelight Foundation), and all resources are provided free of charge. BCN is governed by a Steering Committee and led by Director Florence Martin, supported by a small team of 7 employees. The organization's competitive positioning rests on its cross-sectoral convening role, two-decade content library, and central-node position in the global children's care reform ecosystem.

Name

Better Care Network

Legal name

Better Care Network

Website

https://bettercarenetwork.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Better Care Network is a US-based non-profit interagency network serving as the global knowledge hub for action on children without adequate family care, providing free resources, country-level data, and convening services to governments, NGOs, UN agencies, and faith-based organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donor Funding and Grants: Better Care Network operates as a non-profit interagency network. The organization receives funding from donors and partners including foundations, international organizations, and government agencies. No commercial revenue model is described - the network provides free access to all resources and operates through collaborative partnerships and donor support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Better Care Network is an interagency network facilitating global information exchange and collaboration on children without adequate family care. It operates a multilingual website platform (bettercarenetwork.org) that serves as a global knowledge hub, providing free access to a resource library, country-specific data (Country Care Snapshots), practitioner resources, technical guidance, and advocacy initiatives such as ReThink Orphanages and the Transforming Children's Care Collaborative. The network operates as a project of the Tides Center and is funded by donor contributions and grants.

Product overview

Better Care Network operates a unified website platform serving as the global hub for information exchange and collaboration on children's care issues. The platform provides a comprehensive library of thematic resources organized across areas such as strengthening family care, social welfare systems, the continuum of care, and children's care in emergencies. Key offerings include the Country Care Snapshots with interactive data dashboards, the Practitioner Hub for professional resources, thematic initiatives like ReThink Orphanages and the Transforming Children's Care Collaborative, and the BCN Newsletter. The platform also features dedicated resource centers for COVID-19 and Ukraine response. No modular architecture is indicated - the platform functions as a single integrated information portal with distinct thematic sections.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ReThink Orphanages: Cross sectoral global coalition working to redirect funding away from orphanages towards family strengthening and address the issues of orphanage voluntourism and orphanage trafficking.
• Transforming Children's Care Collaborative
• Faith to Action Initiative

Products and services

• Better Care Network Website Platform A global interagency network platform facilitating information exchange and collaboration on children without adequate family care. The website serves as a resource hub with thematic libraries, country care profiles, and practitioner resources, providing free access for governments, NGOs, practitioners, and international organizations worldwide.
• Country Care Snapshots Interactive, icon-based data dashboards providing high-level overviews of the status of children's care and care reform efforts country by country. Available for 21 countries including Bulgaria, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Moldova, Nepal, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, and Zambia.
• Practitioner Hub An online library containing practitioner-related resources organized around the components of the care system, including transition resources for shifting from residential to family-based care.
• ReThink Orphanages Cross-sectoral global coalition working to redirect funding away from orphanages towards family strengthening and address issues of orphanage voluntourism and orphanage trafficking.
• Transforming Children's Care Collaborative A collaborative platform aimed at establishing more strategic sector-wide collaboration on children's care reform.
• BCN Newsletter Monthly electronic newsletter highlighting new research, tools, learning opportunities, webinars, and news on children without adequate family care. Distributed via Constant Contact to subscribers globally.

Quantifiable outcome

• Country Care Snapshots developed for 21 countries featuring data dashboards on children's care and care reform
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• Tides CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBetter Care Network is a project of the Tides Center, a US-based nonprofit organization. The Tides Center provides organizational infrastructure and acceptable use policy governs the BCN website. This is a core operational relationship supporting BCN's existence as an interagency network.
• Save the ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteering Committee member and key partner. Save the Children provides photos for the BCN website, collaborates on conferences, technical guidance, publications, and advocacy initiatives including ReThink Orphanages and violence against children consultations.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey UN partner and Steering Committee member. UNICEF provides photos for the website, collaborates on Country Care Profiles, Formal Care Indicators, technical guidance, conferences, and global data initiatives including DHS/MICS data strengthening.
• ANPPCAN (African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in organizing the First International Conference in Africa on Family-Based Care for Children held in Nairobi, Kenya in September 2009, attended by over 450 participants from approximately 30 African countries.
• Department of Children's Services, KenyaregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner in organizing the First International Conference in Africa on Family-Based Care for Children in Nairobi, Kenya in 2009.
• SOS Children's VillagesregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the First International Conference in Africa on Family-Based Care for Children (2009) and expert consultations on violence against children and care. Collaborated on reports including 'From a Whisper to a Shout' assessing implementation of Guidelines for Alternative Care.
• ReThink OrphanagescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-sectoral global coalition working to redirect funding away from orphanages towards family strengthening and address orphanage voluntourism and trafficking. BCN leads this initiative with support from Better Volunteering Better Care working group.
• African Child Policy ForumregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-convened the Africa Expert Consultation on Violence Against Children in All Care Settings in June 2017 in Nairobi, Kenya with Better Care Network, with support from Catholic Relief Services, Family for Every Child, Hope and Homes for Children and Save the Children.
• Faith to Action InitiativeregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvolved from BCN's Faith-Based Organization (FBO) Committee formed in 2006. BCN Director Florence Martin serves on its Leadership Council. The initiative engages Christian groups and churches on family-based care approaches for orphans and vulnerable children in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Catholic Relief ServicesregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Africa Expert Consultation on Violence Against Children in All Care Settings (2017) and research on factors related to placement and reintegration from Catholic-affiliated residential care facilities in Zambia.
• Family for Every ChildregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Africa Expert Consultation on Violence Against Children in All Care Settings (2017).
• Hope and Homes for ChildrenregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Africa Expert Consultation on Violence Against Children in All Care Settings (2017).
• World Vision USAregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in BCN's Faith-Based Organization (FBO) Committee core group working to promote better practices in orphan care community.
• United Nations (UN) SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCN collaborates with multiple UN agencies including UNICEF, UNHCR, WHO, and participates in UN advocacy efforts including the New York Working Group on Children without Parental Care and advocacy for the 2019 UNGA Resolution on the Rights of the Child.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hope and Homes for Children: International NGO focused on closing institutions and supporting family-based care for children. Direct peer in BCN's deinstitutionalization and care reform advocacy space, often co-convening at expert consultations.
• SOS Children's Villages: Global NGO focused on children without parental care and family-based care alternatives. Direct peer in the children's care reform space, with overlapping advocacy and direct service activities alongside BCN's knowledge-bundling role.
• Child Helpline International: Global network of child helplines coordinating data, advocacy, and capacity building for children's rights. Operates as a comparable international coordination network with a knowledge-exchange function.
• Faith to Action Initiative: Faith-based network engaging Christian organizations on family-based care for orphans and vulnerable children in Sub-Saharan Africa. Originated as BCN's FBO Committee and shares substantial programmatic and partnership overlap.
• Child Welfare Information Gateway: US federal information service that curates child welfare research, best practices, and policy resources. Comparable to BCN as a knowledge hub, though focused on US domestic child welfare rather than global alternative care.
• Family for Every Child: Global alliance of locally rooted civil society organizations working on child protection, family strengthening, and alternative care. Functions as a knowledge and advocacy network comparable to BCN, with similar multi-country convening scope.

Broad incumbents

• ChildFund International: Large international child-welfare and development organization supporting vulnerable children across multiple regions. Broad incumbent in the same field, with overlapping priorities in family strengthening and child protection.

Others

• Keeping Children Safe: International network focused on child safeguarding standards and capacity building for organizations working with children. Operates adjacently in the child protection ecosystem with parallel coalition-building and standards-setting work.

Regional players

• African Child Policy Forum: Pan-African policy institute focused on children's wellbeing. Regional peer that co-convened with BCN on the 2017 Africa Expert Consultation on Violence Against Children in All Care Settings.
• ANPPCAN: African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect. Regional peer with parallel network structure and co-convening role on family-based care conferences in Africa.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BetterCareNet
• Facebookfacebook.com/bettercarenetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/better-care-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Better Care Network