The Children and Families Medal is awarded to persons (father, mother, etc.) who have raised children with dedication and attentive care.

It can also be given to the volunteer and professional working with families and providing early childhood care and protection.

It is an honorary title awarded to pay tribute to their merit or to show them the recognition of the Nation.

In principle, the following individuals may receive the Children and Families Medal:

• A person who has raised or raised at least 4 children of French nationality, whose eldest child has reached the age of 16. The person must also have made a constant effort, in the exercise of the rights and duties related to children, to raise them in the best possible material and moral conditions.
• A person raising or having raised a child or children with dignity in a particularly difficult family, social or economic context, whose eldest child has reached the age of 16.

However, by way of derogationHowever, the following individuals may also receive the medal:

• A person who, at the death of his parents, has been raising one or more of his siblings alone for at least 2 years
• A person who has raised for at least 2 years an orphan with whom he or she is related
• Widow or widow of war or terrorism raising or having raised one or more children by herself, by reason of the death of her spouse
• Person who dedicates or has dedicated his professional life or his voluntary action to the support, protection and defense of children and families. This person must have acted in particular in the areas of childcare, child protection, support for parenthood.
• Person who provides or has provided exceptional services for the support and support of families or for the support and protection of children and their rights

The person who is the subject of a proposal must sign a declaration of acceptance.

The application or proposal must be accompanied by the following documents:

• Form cerfa no. 15319
• Copy of the valid national identity card or passport (or residence permit or receipt for renewal of residence permit)
• Extract from criminal record
• Full copy or extract with filiation of each child's birth certificate
• School certificate for all school-age children
• In the case of divorce or separation, extract from the decision which pronounced it and any other judicial decision relating to parental authority
• Certificates, if any, from persons or groups qualified and relating to the applicant's qualifications and merits

The award decision shall be taken, according to the person concerned, after investigation by the following persons:

• Prefect of the department and President of the Departmental Union of Family Associations (Unaf)
• Prefect of the Department and Minister responsible for the Family
• Minister in charge of the family on his own initiative or at the request of the prefect of the department together with that of the president of the departmental union of family associations

The award of the Child and Family Medal is purely honorary.

The person receives a medal and a diploma containing the excerpt of the award order. To this end, an official ceremony may be organized by the prefecture, the town hall or the departmental union of family associations (Udaf).

The person is entitled to wear his badge and medal in public.

The badge and medal can be purchased from the Monnaie de Paris or from private manufacturers.

A person who has been awarded the medal may lose it and have it removed if:

• Loss of the exercise of a parent's rights and duties towards a child (loss of parental authority)
• Conviction for one crime or a offense
• Recognized demerit (loss of right due to misconduct, child abuse) or urgency

The request for withdrawal may be made by the same persons, other than the person concerned (the prefect, the mayor, the president of the general council, the family allowance fund, etc.) who have submitted his application.