FICE's main aim is to promote child and youth care throughout the world.

FICE:

  • recognises the individuality of children, young people and their parents, and does not seek to force them to conform with pre-determined norms.
  • supports the family as the basic social structure for the upbringing of children.
  • advocates the highest quality of care and education for children and young people unable to live at home.
  • seeks to find individual solutions to match the needs of each child or young person.
  • encourages the ongoing development of services for children through research and theoretical innovation.
  • bases its work on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
  • observes strict political and religious neutrality.
  • values diversity and rejects all forms of discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political opinion or social origin.

In order to achieve its aims, FICE-International:

  • works through national organisations whose members are engaged in providing services for children and young people, or work in support services such as staff training or the management of services.
  • supports national member organisations through the creation of networks of contacts.
  • organises major international Congresses, usually every two years.
  • supports projects which involve international contacts between children, young people and those who care for them, such as the Balkan Friendship Camps.
  • encourages international exchanges of workers and/or children and young people.
  • provides the Professional Exchange Programme for experienced workers.
  • organises international seminars, expert workshops and working parties on issues concerned with services for children and young people.
  • consults with UNESCO, the European Union, the Council of Europe, ECOSOC and other international bodies.
  • provides information and the opportunity for networking through its website.
  • disseminates new ideas and research findings through its publications.

The organisations which are FICE's National Members

  • bring together various professions concerned with the welfare and education of children and young people regardless of status and other interests.
  • examine and analyse problems and other issues concerning children and young people.
  • develop new initiatives to meet the needs of children and young people.
  • educate the public and those in positions of power and influence in the country about the needs of children and young people.
  • support individual and organisational members, encouraging them to set high standards of practice.
  • encourage the creation of supportive networks of members.
  • organise seminars, conferences, educational trips and professional training.
  • assist other FICE National Members (and others) at times of crisis and natural disasters.
  • publish books, journals, magazines and other materials.
  • are open to individuals and / or organisations (including agencies providing services, colleges offering professional training. local authorities and other associations) concerned about the welfare and social education of children and young people to join.
  • elect their officers through democratic processes.

Note: The National Members of FICE are very varied and they are not all involved in all the above activities.