These illustrative standards are composites of standards developed by leaders in a number of African countries, based on the participatory approach set forth in Quality Programs for Orphans and Vulnerable Children: A Facilitator’s Guide to Establishing Service Standards. Nine service standards are covered: Food and Nutrition, Shelter and Material Care, Protection, Health Care,  Psychosocial Support, Education and Vocational Training, Economic Strengthening, and Coordination of Care. 

Each standard includes a statement of desired outcome, measurable goals based on the Child Status index, essential actions that define the service, and guidelines that explain how the essential actions should be carried out. It is an important goal of this process to enable implementers in a given country to reach agreement about a common core of essential actions that should be carried out for each service. However, it is expected that detailed guidelines would vary somewhat by organization in order to adapt the standards to the local context. Thus, the standards provide flexibility, while assuring that consistency across programs is achieved.