A family for every child

Better Care Awards

An award recognising change-makers who protect every child’s right to grow up in a family environment

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The annual Better Care Award is presented on November 20, World Children’s Day

To individuals whose actions improve children’s lives

To initiatives and organisations implementing projects that support families with children

To communities/regions implementing the Better Care Reform

To businesses investing in support for families with children

Purpose of the award

To recognise leaders driving change in child rights protection, family support, and inclusion
To promote practices that create a child-centred environment
To encourage actions that transform the child care and support system
To establish a tradition of recognising child-focused initiatives
To highlight the importance of the Better Care Reform in Ukraine — developing family-based care, expanding community social services, supporting families with children, returning and reintegrating children, and creating inclusive and safe opportunities for every child

Award regulation

2026 award categories

Architects of care

For leadership in implementing the Better Care Reform

Power of family

For supporting the family as the best environment for a child

Ambassadors of warmth

For supporting and developing family-based care

Voice of change

For public advocacy of the Better Care Reform

Organisers

With the support of

Methodological support for nominee selection provided by KPMG Ukraine

Award stages

September 1-20

Accepting applications

Submission of applications from people, organizations, communities and businesses

21.09 - 09.10

Evaluation

Verification of applications for compliance with technical requirements. Evaluation by an expert jury

10.10-17.10

Audit

Verification of candidates for compliance with integrity criteria

19.10-23.10

Supervisory Board

Approval of laureates by the Supervisory Board

November 20

Award ceremony

Announcement and recognition of award winners

Evaluation criteria

The main idea is to assess if a nominee’s case is child-centred and contributes to a child’s development and safety, reflecting the principles of the Better Care Reform

Child-centred approach

Is the child at the centre of decision-making? Are the child’s needs, interests, and rights considered?

Impact

What tangible (quantitative and qualitative) outcomes did the project deliver for children?

Inclusiveness

Are the needs of all children addressed, including vulnerable groups?

Innovation

Assessment of new ideas or approaches to addressing children’s issues and family needs

Sustainability

How long-term is the impact, and is there potential for future development?

Alignment with the Strategy for Ensuring Every Child’s Right to Grow Up in a Family Environment

Does the project, initiative, or practice support its implementation?

Expert jury

The expert jury consists of leading experts in child rights, social policy, education, healthcare, governance, and civil society

Anastasiia Konovalova

Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine for Preschool Education and Inclusion

Zoreslava Liulchak

Director of the “Dzherelo” Center for Social Services and Rehabilitation

Anna Deriy

Vice President and Communications Manager, "Parent Organizations Network" Public Union Chair of the Board, "Poltava Down Syndrome" NGO Mother of Two Children with Down Syndrome

Iryna Fihol

Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, Coordination Center for Family Upbringing and Child Care Development

Valeriia Tatarchuk

Founder and CEO, "Tvoya Opora" Charitable Foundation

Olesia Yaskevich

Founder and Head of the NGO "Bachyty Sertsem"

Myroslava Didukh

Health and Social Policy Sector Coordinator, Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine

Daria Domanchuk

Head of Ascent Hub; psychologist specializing in criminal proceedings involving children and minors

Yuliia Lutska

Child Protection Partnerships Specialist, UNICEF

Liudmyla Kvoka

First Deputy Head of the Kehychivka Settlement Council, Kharkiv Region

Viktoriia Tyshchenko

President and Founder, "Volunteers: Adults for Children" Charitable Foundation

Viktoriia Drymalovska

Foster Mother Co-founder, NGO "Ambassadors of Care" Family-Based Care Support Programme Coordinator, NGO "Care in Action"

Kateryna Hrabovska

Head of Communications, Coordination Center for Family Upbringing and Child Care Development

Tetiana Skrypka

Member of Parliament

Nataliia Prymenko

Expert on Alternative Care and Deinstitutionalization, Save the Children

Viktoriia Plitka

Founder, MOM&KID FoodHub Social Enterprise; Co-founder, Polish House Charitable Foundation Social Entrepreneur and Civic Activist

Alyona Onyshchenko

Director of Communications and Partnerships, "Ridni" Charitable Foundation ESG Hub Advisor, European Business Association

Larysa Kuzina

Foster Mother in a Large Foster Family

Inna Miroshnychenko

Adoptive Mother, Human Rights Activist and Member of the Ombudsman's Office Monitoring Group on Issues in Institutional Care Facilities

Vasyl Bohdan

Head of the Juvenile Prevention Department, National Police of Ukraine

Nataliia Katriuk

Head of the Mamaivtsi Territorial Community, Chernivtsi Region

Liudmyla Shemelynets

First Deputy Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine

Tetiana Lomakina

Advisor – Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Barrier-Free Environment

Tetiana Korol

Social and Behaviour Change Programme Manager, UNICEF

Anna-Elzhbeta Fedoseienko

Reintegration and Cross-Border Case Management Coordinator at the Rokada Charitable Foundation

Nataliia Shnyt

Board Member and Head of Legal Affairs, "Parent Organizations Network" Public Union Head, NGO "Inclusive Studios"

Nina Gorbachova

Communications Director, Olena Zelenska Foundation

Andrii Dligach

Founder and Head of the Center for Social Change and Behavioral Economics, Founder and Head of Advanter Group

Yana Shevel

Head of the Day Center for Social and Psychological Assistance to Persons Affected by Domestic and/or Gender-Based Violence

Andrii Ivantsiv

Founder, Symmetrica Medical Group Founder, St. Augustine Charitable Foundation

Daria Doshchuk

Regional Project Management Manager, 'Hope and Homes for Children'

Oksana Cherviakova

Representative of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights on Children’s Rights

Olena Khomenko

Member of Parliament

Nataliia Datchenko

Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF

Anastasiia Vasylchenko

Foster Parent of a Family-Type Children’s Home Co-founder, NGO "Ambassadors of Care"

Iryna Kondratiuk

Director of the 'Osoblyve Dytynstvo' (Special Childhood) habilitation center for children and the 'Osoblyvym vid Osoblyvykh' (For Special from Special) center for adolescents and youth Co-founder of the NGO 'Osoblyvym vid Osoblyvykh'

Olena Pshenychna

Co-founder and Head, NGO "Vydymi" Board Member, "Parent Organizations Network" Public Union

Tetiana Zhuravel

Executive Director of the All-Ukrainian Public Center 'VOLUNTEER'

Svitlana Roiz

Child and Family Psychologist

Margaryta Kropivnytska

Child Protection Officer UNICEF

Kyrylo Nevdokha

Head of the DIIMO Children and Youth Office under the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine

Nataliia Masiak

Executive Director of CF “Voices of Children”, Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist

Alyona Deryvedmid

Speech and Language Therapist and Special Education Teacher; Specialist in Child Speech Development and Correction

Yaroslav Lahuta

Director of the Charitable Organization 'Lumos Ukraine'

Liudmyla Yaremchuk

Expert on Social Protection, Social Services and Capacity Building, Association of Ukrainian Cities

Olena Remen

Head of the Expert Group on Adoption and Family-Based Care, Coordination Center for Family Upbringing and Child Care Development

Yuliia Konotoptseva

Director, "Global2000 for the Children of Ukraine" Charitable Foundation

Vasylyna Dybaylo

Board Member, Eurochild Director, International Charitable Organization "Partnership for Every Child"

Nataliia Syvoraksha

Head of the Children's Affairs Service, Zaporizhzhia City Council

Daria Kasianova

Chair of the Board, Ukrainian Child Rights Network Program Development Director, SOS Children's Villages Ukraine

Tetiana Shevchenko

Founder and Head of the 'SvoieRidni' community Member of the 'Network of Parents Organizations'

Olena Pisarieva

Head of the Children's Affairs Service, Radyvyliv City Council, Rivne Region

Valentyna Zozulia

Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Children's Affairs

Halyna Yurchenko

Head of the Family Support Services Department, Lviv Regional Council Center for Social Support of Children and Families

Maryna Perunovska

Director of Development Programs at the Center for Social Change and Behavioral Economics NGO

Olena Krainova

Director of Special Preschool Educational Institution No. 146 "Verbychka" (Zaporizhzhia City Council)

Iryna Poterailo

Head of the Department of Education, Healthcare, Culture, and Sports, Lubny District State Administration

Aina Kompanychchenko

Head of the Children’s Services Department of the Dmytrivka Village Council, Kyiv Region

Zinaida Kyianytsia

Deputy Director for Program Development, International Charitable Organization "Partnership for Every Child"

Supervisory board

Olena Zelenska

First Lady of Ukraine, Founder of the Olena Zelenska Foundation

Denys Uliutin

Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine

Iryna Tuliakova

Head of the Coordination Center for Family Upbringing and Child Care Development

Katarína Mathernová

Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine

Dmytro Lubinets

Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights

Better Care Awards 2025

On November 20, 2025, on Universal Children's Day, the first ceremony of presenting the award "A Family for Every Child. Better Care Awards" took place. Here's how it went.

View the 2025 laureates Watch the video