Transforming Institutional Care

The detrimental effects of institutional care on a child’s well-being are widely documented. Community 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. Institutional care should only be used as a short-term last resort for children over the age of 3, when all other options have been exhausted.

Countries which have traditionally relied on institutional care are now undergoing major transformations to their child care and social welfare policies, in order to move towards community care options. Such transformations are rooted in the research-based evidence of the impact of institutions on a child’s development, vulnerability to abuse within institutional settings, and the institution's high operational costs. It is therefore of great concern that the use of institutions 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 community rather than institutional care.

Institutions should be divided into small group homes in order to provide care which more closely resembles a family structure, with the close supervision of consistent adult caretakers, and with siblings, cousins and friends kept together. Adolescents, who may find integration into a new family difficult, may benefit from small group home care or supported independent living arrangements. Such homes should be fully integrated in the community to which the children belong, with a comparable standard of living. Any group home 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.

Any child in an institution 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.

The literature in this section deals with examples of countries which are working to develop their child care policies away from using large scale institutions to alternative community care options such as kinship care, fostering, and small group homes.

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Transitioning from Residential Care to Family Care in South Africa: Beautiful Gate Case Study

Faith to Action Initiative, 20 Apr 2022

This case study documents the successful transition of Beautiful Gate, a children's home in Cape Town, South Africa, from the orphanage model to a family-based and community-based approach.

Transitioning from Residential Care to Family Care in South Africa - Beautiful Gate Case Study: Communicating Change with Donors

Faith to Action Initiative, 20 Apr 2022

Engaging with key stakeholders is an essential part of any transition and must be handled with tact and wisdom. Located in South Africa, the organization Beautiful Gate began its ministry to protect street children and later grew to provide residential programs for children in need. Yet, as they began to learn more about the needs of children in families, they decided to shift away from residential care and expand their services to include the families of the children they served. This case study summary explains how Beautiful Gate communicated these changes with donors.

Tearing Down or Fixing Up Institutional Care for Abandoned Children?

Marinus H. van IJzendoorn, Marian J. Bakermans-Kranenburg, 12 Apr 2022

Typical large-group institutions for abandoned children or orphans are known to be bad for the development of children, but what about small-group care?

Webinar Recording: Transforming Children's Care Webinar #8 - Transitioning Residential Care Services

Transforming Children's Care Global Collaborative Platform, 16 Mar 2022

This webinar was hosted by the Transitioning Residential Care Working Group of the Transforming Children’s Care Global Collaborative Platform and showcased learning around the transition of residential care services.

Walking at the Speed of Trust: The Emotional Journey of Transitioning from a Residential Care Model to Family-Based Care

Changing the Way We Care, 15 Mar 2022

This brief documents the first stages of a learning process between Changing the Way We CareSM and the Mexican Province of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd as the Sisters moved forward in their transition process. It is written for practitioners and organizations, including Catholic actors interested in supporting or engaging in a transition process with women religious and also provides useful information for those engaging in transition with non-faith actors.

Caminar a la velocidad de la confianza: El viaje emocional de la transición de un modelo de atención residencial a la atención basada en la familia y la comunidad

Changing the Way We Care, 15 Mar 2022

Este informe documenta las primeras etapas de un proceso de aprendizaje entre Cambiando la forma en que Cuidamos y la Congregación de las Hermanas de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Buen Pastor en México a medida que ellas avanzan en su proceso de transición. Este documento está dirigido a los profesionales, las organizaciones y los actores católicos interesados en apoyar o participar en un proceso de transición con las organizaciones católicas y también proporciona información útil para aquellos que participan en la transición con actores no religiosos. Esto incluye un importante aprendizaje relacionado con la forma de acompañar a las religiosas en el proceso de transición, comprendiendo los matices relacionados con el tiempo, el contenido y el enfoque. Y lo más importante es que explora el componente emocional que conlleva el hecho de que las religiosas, adapten el enfoque de su carisma a medida que se transforman, pasando de proporcionar atención residencial a una atención basada en la familia y la comunidad.

Insights Into the World of Privatized Faith-Based Residential Care Facilities in Myanmar

Better Care Network, Kinnected, ACC International Relief, 10 Mar 2022

The study was aimed at gaining insights into the operations of privately run, Christian faith-based residential care facilities (RCFs) in Myanmar. The outcomes of this analysis provide important insights to inform ongoing awareness raising, advocacy efforts, approaches to providing technical support and deinstitutionalization, and care reform strategies in Myanmar.

Practitioner's Perspective: Institutions and Reintegration

Alliance for Children Everywhere (ACE) Transition Partners, 02 Mar 2022

In this video Daisy Muzukutwa, Executive Director of ACE Zambia, addresses the following questions: financial viability of reintegration; future of institutional staff after the transition; and where to begin when considering a transition.

Practitioner Video Discussion Guide: Upendo Village, Kenya

Better Care Network, 15 Feb 2022

This video summary accompanies the Readjusting to Parenthood: Peer Support Groups for Grandparents Assuming Care for Orphaned Children (Upendo Village, Kenya) practitioner learning video which is part of the Kenya Practitioner Learning Video Series.

Care Reform in Uganda: Virtual Study Tour

Changing the Way We Care, UNICEF, Government of Uganda, 31 Jan 2022

This virtual study tour aims to provide you with an overview of care reform in Uganda from the comfort of your own home. Care reform relates to the care of children.