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.

Displaying 751 - 757 of 757

Browse Other Topics

Roofs and Roots. The Care of Separated Children in the Developing World

David Tolfree , 17 Feb 1995

Save the Children’s research and analysis of residential care services and the need for alternative non-institutional approaches for children separated from their families. This book examines policy and practices from work in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Eastern and Central Europe.

Romania's Orphans: A Legacy of Repression

Human Rights Watch, 01 Dec 1990

Shortly after Nicolar Ceauscu was overthrown on December 22, 1989, the world was exposed for the first time to the shocking images of Romania's orphans, especially its children with disabilities and babies with AIDS.

Children in Orphanages: A Hidden Global Problem

Lumos,

This fact sheet from Lumos provides a short look at the world wide problem of children in orphanages.

Applying Stress & Coping Model of Birth Parent Loss to Orphans: Exploratory Findings of Adolescents in South Korean Orphanages

Hollee McGinnis, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University,

The present quantitative study of adolescents in orphanages in South Korea explored the following questions: (1) Do adolescents in institutions experience cognitions and feelings about birth parent loss? (2) What is the association between birth parent loss and mental health (depression, trauma), behavior problems (YSR total internalizing, externalizing), and school problems (school engagement, grades)?

ReThink Orphanages Position Paper on the Alternative Care of Children

ReThink Orphanages,

This position paper from ReThink Orphanages explains ReThink's position on the alternative care of children and what are the most favorable forms of alternative care, in the best interests of children.

Friends International “Think Before Visiting” Campaign

Friends International,

Friends International, with support from UNICEF, has launched its “Think Before Visiting” campaign. The campaign is aimed at partnering with tourists to end “orphanage tourism” in Cambodia.

View Website

Transitioning from Aftercare Programme to the Community: A Study of Experiences of Male Orphan Youth Care Leavers in Maharashtra

This study details the journey of the Orphan and Destitute Youth in Aftercare Programme in Maharashtra, India. The study was conducted with the orphan youth who left the Seven Aftercare programmes both from Government and NGO-run Aftercare programme. It has discussed their challenges, experiences and support given during and post aftercare while orphan youth started their independent life.