Let’s have this directly from UN Guidelines For the most part, the Guidelines apply to the provision of formal alternative care for all children (i.e. persons under the age of 18, unless majority is attained earlier, in line with the CRC) without parental care or at risk of being so [§ 27]. At the same time, the Guidelines’ coverage extends to young people leaving the formal care system and needing support after reaching the age of majority. They may also be applicable in settings that do not constitute ‘alternative care’ as such but have a responsibility to care for children (e.g. boarding schools, school hostels and treatment centres [§ 31]). However, the Guidelines are also the first international instrument to cover not only all types of ‘formal’ alternative care but also ‘informal’ arrangements
