The International Classification of Alternative Care of Children (ICare) addresses a crucial need for globally accepted concepts, definitions and principles to ensure a standardized approach to collecting and classifying statistical data on the alternative care of children. Developed by UNICEF following the principles and guidelines of the UN Committee of Experts on International Statistical Classifications, the ICare defines the three main types of alternative care — family-based care, residential care and independent living — and applies to all types of data on alternative care of children, including administrative records, surveys and censuses.