Ending Child Institutionalization

The detrimental effects of institutionalization on a child’s well-being are widely documented. Family based care alternatives such as kinship or foster care, are much more effective in providing care and protection for a child, and are sustainable options until family reunification can take place. The use of residential care should be strictly limited to specific cases where it may be necessary to provide temporary, specialized, quality care in a small group setting organized around the rights and needs of the child in a setting as close as possible to a family, and for the shortest possible period of time. The objective of such placement should be to contribute actively to the child’s reintegration with his/her family or, where this is not possible or in the best interests of the child, to secure his/her safe, stable, and nurturing care in an alternative family setting or supported independent living as young people transition to adulthood. 

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Transforming Children's Care Collaborative,

This brief contains high-level guidance and recommendations for policy and decision-makers and development partners to consider in designing frameworks to scale up, coordinate and support the transition of individual residential care services.

Changing the Way We Care,

This study analyzes statistical data on the institutionalization of children aged between 0-6 years; examines current practices of prevention, identification, assistance, referral, and placement in institutions and family based alternative care; evaluates the knowledge and attitudes of professionals and decision makers and outlines recommendations for the development and introduction of a moratorium on placing children aged between 0-6 years in residential care.

European Disability Forum,

У рамках цього процесу Міністерство соціальної політики України об’єднало зусилля з широким колом представників громадянського суспільства для проведення п’ятиденного навчання та інтенсивного стратегічного планування деінституціалізації протягом квітня та травня 2023 року. У цьому документі представлені ключові висновки та рекомендації, зроблені під час п’ятиденного обміну думками та стратегічного планування. Ми сподіваємося, що ці рекомендації стануть основою для процесу стратегічного планування уряду, а також допоможуть донорам визначити свої пріоритети. Всі учасники висловили побажання, щоб цей захід став «останнім поштовхом» до повної трансформації системи догляду та виховання та назавжди поклав край інституціалізації дітей в Україні. 

European Disability Forum,

During April and May 2023, the Ukrainian Ministry of Social Policy joined forces with a broad range of civil society actors to facilitate five days of learning and intensive strategic planning on deinstitutionalization. This document presents the key findings and recommendations from those five days of exchange of ideas and strategic planning. It is hoped that these recommendations will inform the government’s strategic planning process, as well as providing insight for donors to inform their priorities.

National Network for Children,

National Network for Children (NNC) released its monitoring Report Card 2023 which evaluates the progress of Bulgarian state care institutions in eight areas – Child participation, Child Welfare, Family Environment and Alternative care, Protection from all forms of Violence, Child Justice, Early Childhood Development, Child Health, Education, Sport, Culture and Leisure.

Changing the Way We Care (CTWWC),

Positive parenting programs are an important part of this package and are provided together with training in household finance, access to household economic strengthening opportunities, and referrals to other critical services such as child protection and disability support and helping families under stress feel supported and part of their local community. This brief describes the program and interventions.

Faith to Action,

The story of Buckner Guatemala’s transition from residential care to family care is told in this recently released Faith to Action case study. The case study details their experience through three stages of transition—learning, preparation and planning, and full transition—with transparency. It addresses common challenges for transitioning organizations, as well as the strategies Buckner took to overcome them.

Faith to Action,

The story of Heartline’s transition from residential care to family care is told in this recently released Faith to Action case study. The case study details their experience through three stages of transition—learning, preparation and planning, and full transition—with transparency. It addresses common challenges for transitioning organizations, as well as the strategies Heartline took to overcome them.

European Network on Independent Living (ENIL),

This webinar looked at ways to raise awareness among the general public on the right to independent living and the harm of institutionalisation for the entire society.

Rebecca Nhep, Dr Kate van Doore,

This study was conducted as a part of a multi-stage, multi-country project designed to enhance the identification, prosecution, and prevention of orphanage trafficking crimes. It was the second of four stages to be conducted in Cambodia as one of three jurisdictions included in the study.