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.

Countries which have traditionally relied on residential care are now undergoing major transformations to their child care and social welfare policies, in order to move towards family and community based care options. Such transformations are rooted in the research-based evidence of the impact of institutionalization on a child’s development, vulnerability to abuse within residential care settings, and the institution's high operational costs. It is therefore of great concern that the use of residential care is increasing in developing countries with high rates of HIV/AIDS. Such projects are typically funded by foreign donors to the detriment of the local population, and pressure should be placed on the host governments to pursue policies of family based care rather than residential care.

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.

Where the separation of parents and child is long-term, the alternative care arrangement should be family based to give the child a sense of security, continuity, stability and belonging by providing certainty on where the child will live for the rest of childhood and who the child’s parents or legal guardians will be. Keeping siblings, cousins and close friends together should be an important consideration in placement decisions. Adolescents, who may find integration into a new family difficult, may benefit from placement in supported independent living arrangements. These arrangements should be fully integrated in the community to which the children belong, with a comparable standard of living.

Any child in a residential care setting must have their needs assessed and planned for, to enable them to return to their families as soon as possible. If a child has become separated from her family in an emergency, documentation, tracing and reunification activities should begin urgently. If a child has been removed from parental care for her safety, support services should be provided to the parents in order to facilitate the return of the child. Children must be kept fully informed and involved in any plans for their care, and encouraged to maintain contact with known relatives where possible.

Residential care services must adhere to stringent standards of documentation and care and be regularly monitored by protection workers to ensure the children have their safety, health, psychosocial, and educational needs met.

The literature in this section deals with examples of countries which are working to develop their child care policies away from using residential care to alternative family care options such as kinship care, fostering, and adoption.

Displaying 81 - 90 of 678

Browse Other Topics

Emotional Psychological Impact of Institutionalization on Children and Early Adolescents

María del Carmen Manzo Chávez, 2022

The causes of institutionalization are multiple and the impact it causes is reflected in different areas such as the development of the child in general, such as mental, psychic structuring, health, and nutrition. Psychologically, children present alterations in their cognitive, emotional, sexual, and social domains with a high probability of developing several pathological conditions. This chapter presents an overview of this phenomenon based on several research investigations carried out in Spain, Latin America, and Mexico.

Child and Adolescent Development in Risky Adverse Contexts

Nutritional Status Assessment of Orphanage Children in Rawalpindi

Mehwish Riaz, Naila Azam, Humaira Mehmood, Raima Asif, Nazish Khan, Fatima Ali Raza Mughal, 31 Dec 2021

The objective of the study was to evaluate the health and nutritional status of four registered orphanages of Rawalpindi, to find frequency of nutritional deficiencies by physical examination findings and to assess their dietary intake and contrast it with individual recommended daily allowances.

Making the Case for Transition - Kinnected Partner, India/Australia

Better Care Network in partnership with Kinnected, 14 Dec 2021

This video case study was developed as a part of the Transitioning Models of Care Assessment Tool training package. It is 1 of 8 video case studies exploring different aspects of learning on transitioning residential care services. To access the full set of case studies or the training package, visit the BCN Transition Hub.

Transitioning Residential Care Services Video Case Studies

Better Care Network in partnership with Kinnected, 14 Dec 2021

These video case studies were developed as a part of the Transitioning Models of Care As

Herramienta de Evaluación de Modelos de Atención en Transición

Rebecca Nhep and Hannah Won - Better Care Network & Kinnected, an intitiative of ACC International Relief, with support from Changing the Way We Care, 01 Dec 2021

Esta herramienta tiene como objetivo ayudar a los profesionales a lograr los siguientes objetivos al brindar apoyo técnico a las instituciones en transición:

Versión inglesa

Estudio de caso de las condiciones que conllevan a una transició n segura: Bridges Safehouse

Better Care Network and Kinnected, 01 Dec 2021

Este estudio de caso destaca algunos de los requisitos previos para el punto de partida de una transición exitosa de la atención residencial a un modelo no residencial, muchos de los cuales a menudo se pasan por alto o se subestiman. El estudio de caso se organiza en torno a las distintas etapas de la transición y explora algunos de los temas clave descritos en la Herramienta de evaluación de modelos de atención en transición.

Versión inglesa

Beyond Institutional Care: A roadmap for child protection and care system reform for governments in Latin America and the Caribbean

Hope and Homes for Children, 01 Dec 2021

This report provides a framework for governments to develop their own roadmap for child protection and care system reform and deinstitutionalisation. The authors hope that it will inspire a conversation, guide inter-ministerial and cross society dialogue, support multidisciplinary groups at all levels to frame their own assessment, and plan their own roadmap for change.

Changing the Way We Care in Guatemala

Changing the Way We Care Guatemala, 01 Dec 2021

This two-pager highlights 2018-2020 results of the The Changing the Way We Care℠ (CTWWC) initiative for decision makers, government officials, media, other institutions or organizations working with children and adolescents, and private and public counterparts. CTWWC was formed in 2018 to transform care systems and demonstrate sustainable change at scale in 5 to 7 countries, including Guatemala, Kenya, Moldova, India, and Haiti. In Guatemala and around the world, more than 80-90% of children and adolescents living in orphanages (referred to as “protection homes” in Guatemala) have at least one living parent.

Estudio de caso del proceso del cambio: Haciendo la Transición del Orfanato Firefly

Better Care Network and Kinnected, 01 Dec 2021

Este estudio de caso destaca algunas de las dinámicas clave que surgieron a lo largo del proceso de transición de sus servicios de la atención residencial a la programación no institucional de una organización y examina cómo esas dinámicas influyeron en la transición y determinaron el tipo de apoyo brindado, así como el más apropiado. estrategia de transición. El estudio de caso se organiza en torno a las distintas etapas de la transición y explora algunos de los temas clave descritos en la Herramienta de evaluación de modelos de atención en transición.

Versión inglesa

Más allá del cuidado institucional: Una hoja de ruta para la reforma del sistema de protección y cuidado infantil destinada a los Gobiernos de América Latina y el Caribe

Hope and Homes for Children, 01 Dec 2021

Más Allá del Cuidado Institucional proporciona un marco para que los gobiernos desarrollen su propia hoja de ruta para la reforma de sus sistemas de protección y cuidado infantil y la desinstitucionalización. Esperamos que esto inspire el diálogo, guíe las conversaciones entre grupos interministeriales y en la sociedad, oriente a grupos
multidisciplinarios de todos los niveles en la creación de su propia evaluación y ayude en la planificación de su propia hoja de ruta para el cambio.