Effects of Institutional Care

Institutionalising children has been shown to cause a wide range of problems for their development, well-being and longer-term outcomes. Institutional care does not adequately provide the level of positive individual attention from consistent caregivers which is essential for the successful emotional, physical, mental, and social development of children. This is profoundly relevant for children under 3 years of age for whom institutional care has been shown to be especially damaging.

Common issues for children in institutional care are a significantly increased risk of sexual and physical abuse, a lack of stimulation, and harsh discipline. Children in institutions are less likely to attend school, and are frequently isolated from their traditional communities. Long periods in an institution make it harder for a child to assimilate back into a family and community, and deny them access to the life-long attachments and community support systems that family relationships and communities can provide. For funders and implementing bodies, care in the community is a significantly more effective and sustainable use of resources since it avoids the high maintenance costs of institutions, and prevents many of the problems posed by institutional care.

It is widely accepted that institutions should be used as a last resort only. Countries which have traditionally relied on institutional care are now transforming their institutions into small family style group homes and actively pursuing preferences for community-based care options based around small family style units. This policy shift is urgently required in HIV/AIDS affected countries which are taking a backward step in resorting to the use of institutions to care for children orphaned or affected by the disease.

The body of literature contained in this section provides in-depth explanations of the damaging effects of institutionalisation on children and provides recommendations for alterative community care options.

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No Way Home: The Exploitation and Abuse of Children in Ukraine’s Orphanages

Eric Mathews, Eric Rosenthal, Laurie Ahern, Halyna Kurylo - Disability Rights International , 16 Apr 2015

This report is a product of a three-year investigation by Disability Rights International (DRI) into the abuses experienced by children - both with and without disabilities - in large-scale institutions, psychiatric facilities, and boarding schools in Ukraine, of whom there are nearly 100,000, according to the report.

Growth and Development among Children Living In Orphanages of Odisha, an Eastern Indian State

Dr. Sourajit Routray, Dr. Bijay Kumar Meher, Dr. Radha Tripathy, Dr. Sailaja Nandan Parida, Dr. Nijwm Mahilary, Dr. Deepti Damayanty Pradhan , 01 Apr 2015

This study was aimed at assessing growth and developmental outcomes of children living in orphanages in Odisha, India aged birth to 72 months and to make recommendations for “possible remedial measures” for addressing poor growth and developmental outcomes for children in institutions.

Research on institutionalized children: Implications for international child welfare practitioners and policymakers

Robert B. McCall & Christina J. Groark - International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation, Vol 4(2), 01 Apr 2015

This paper reviews the empirical literature on the effects of institutionalization on young children’s development from the perspective of global child welfare practice and policy.

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Attachment & Hope of Institutionalized and Reunified Children in Ghana

Bryan A. Teuscher & Jini Roby - FHSS Mentored Research Conference, Brigham Young University, 31 Mar 2015

This poster provides a brief overview of research conducted in Ghana to examine how institutionalized children’s hope for the future may be impacted by perceived social attachments.

Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment: children deprived of their liberty

Juan Mendez, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment , 05 Mar 2015

This Report by Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Juan E. Méndez, to the UN Human Rights Council focuses on children deprived of their liberty from the perspective of the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. It addresses the situation of children in institutions, and in particular their torture and ill-treament.

From Volunteering to Voluntourism: Challenges for the Responsible Development of a Growing Travel Trend

ECPAT Germany, Tourism Watch, Bread for the World, Working Group - Tourism & Development (akte) , 01 Mar 2015

This publication serves as a guide for responsible voluntourism, both for volunteers and volunteer tour operators.

The Science of Early Adversity: Is There a Role for Large Institutions in the Care of Vulnerable Children?

Anne E Berens, MSc, Prof Charles A Nelson, PhD - The Lancet , 29 Jan 2015

This review discusses the worldwide phenomenon of child institutionalisation and assesses scientific evidence on the developmental effects of early institutional care.

Effect of Maternal Deprivation on Child Development: A Comparative Study Between Orphanage and Urban Slum Children in Odisha

Sourajit Routray, Nijwm Mahilary and Rajkumar Paul - International Journal of Bioassays , 21 Jan 2015

This study compares the development of children living in orphanages with that of children living in slums with their biological parents in Odisha, India.

Sibling Placement and Contact in Out-Of-Home Care

Dr. Joseph J. McDowall - Create Foundation, 2015

This research report analyzes the contributing factors in children and youth’s ability to be placed in care alongside siblings, as well as how caseworkers view sibling placements in Australia’s child welfare system.

Ending Institutionalisation: An analysis of the financing of the deinstitutionalisation process in Bulgaria

Georgette Mulheir - Lumos, 2015

According to this report from Lumos, in 2010 there were more than 6,700 children living in institutions in Bulgaria.