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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Caring for Vulnerable Children: What Does Answering God’s Call Mean for Churches, Families, Orphanages, and Other Forms of Children’s Care?

Georgetown University Collaborative on Global Children's Issues, 25 Apr 2023

Spanish

How Do We Get the Message Out About the Importance of Closing Institutions?

European Network on Independent Living (ENIL), 10 Apr 2023

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.

เด็ก ด็ โตนอกบ้าบ้น...ในสถานฯที่ไที่ม่มีม่ ใมีครมองเห็น

Safe Child Thailand, Mahidol University, Alternative Care Thailand, UNICEF, 01 Apr 2023

ที่มา

Orphanage Trafficking and the Sustainable Development Goals

Kathryn E. van Doore, Rebecca Nhep, 01 Apr 2023

This article examines the intersections of orphanage trafficking, a form of child trafficking and modern slavery, and the sale and sexual exploitation of children with reference to the Sustainable Development Goals. It outlines the contextual challenges of these intersections highlighting the special protection needs of children residing in institutions and outlines how orphanage tourism and funding undermine care reform efforts of national authorities.

No Child Left Behind: No Less than 120,000 Children in Institutional Care in Thailand

Mahidol University, Alternative Care Thailand, 01 Apr 2023

This new study reveals that over 120,000 children in Thailand are living in institutional settings, mostly due to poverty and limited access to education. 90% have at least one living parent. Although institutional care may be appropriate in emergencies, it is often overly misused and can affect children’s emotional, cognitive and mental development. More than 50% of private “orphanages” are unregistered and unregulated.

Transforming Children’s Care Webinar #12: Early Institutionalization Intervention Impact

Transforming Children's Care Collaborative, 30 Mar 2023

This webinar was hosted by the Evidence for Impact Working Group of the Transforming Children’s Care Collaborative on March 30, 2023, and examined the Early Institutionalization Intervention Impact Project in Brazil.

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Experiences, Challenges and Initiatives of Youth Care Leavers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Maharashtra, India

Aditya Charegaonkar, Sudeshna Roy, 22 Dec 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted the daily lives of people globally. In this narrative essay, the authors use the story-telling method to reflect on the challenges encountered and initiatives undertaken by a support group network for Youth Care Leavers (YCLs) community during the COVID-19 pandemic in Maharashtra, India.

The Lifestories Project: Empowering Voices and Avoiding Harm—Ethics Protocol of a Long-Term Follow-Up Study of Individuals Placed in Infant Care Institutions in Switzerland

Patricia Lannen, Clara Bombach, Fabio Sticca, Heidi Simoni, Oskar G. Jenni, 17 Nov 2022

The current study assesses a protocol designed to mitigate risks in a population-based cohort of 246 individuals placed in care institutions as infants in a non-selective 60-year follow-up. In total, 116 (47%) individuals chose to participate, of whom 53 (55%) reported positive effects of participation such as the opportunity to fill some gaps in their life stories, to better deal with their past, and to understand previous family dynamics.

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Mapeo Regional de Activistas Que Vivieron en Cuidados Alternativos en América Latina y el Caribe

Doncel with support from the Latin American Network of Care Leavers, Better Care Network, Changing the Way We Care, 27 Oct 2022

Para garantizar que las personas que han vivido en cuidados alternativos puedan participar de los procesos y decisiones para mejorar los sistemas de cuidado, Doncel junto a la Red Latinoamericana de Egresados de Protección, Better Care Network y Cambiando la Forma en Que Cuidamos (Changing The Way We Care en inglés) llevaron adelante el primer mapeo regional de activistas que vivieron en cuidados alternativos en América Latina y el Caribe.

La historia de la evolución y transformación de Casa Eudes, dirigido por las Hermanas de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Buen Pastor, en Tijuana, México

Changing the Way We Care, 07 Oct 2022

Este estudio de caso destaca la transición de servicios de cuidado residencial a los basados en la familia y comunidad, realizado por las Hermanas de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Buen Pastor, en Tijuana B.C., México.