The heart of a society can be found in its children. While 22.2% of children in Sri Lanka are living without one or both of their parents. Every child has needs as unique as themselves. For that reason, a system able to provide for those needs, within the framework of a family, is the best way to help that child develop and reach their full potential. This outline of alternative care, both conceptually and in the Sri Lankan context, provides insight into both the current system and what efforts are yielding results