Aim of the study
This study aims to provide a brief mapping and summary of existing knowledge on alternative care and deinstitutionalisation in Central and South America. In order to understand what steps might be taken to promote and implement policy and practice for deinstitutionalisation, I believe it is important to understand the situation of children who are at risk of losing, or have already lost, parental care as well as the alternative care options available. I also recognise that alternative care provision sits within a child protection system. To this end, it has been important to explore the elements of national child protection systems and elements that contribute to the prevention of unnecessary care placement and provision of suitable alternative care. Therefore, this study has considered a body of literature that documents these factors taking both regional and individual country perspectives.
The overall purpose of this study is to present an ‘introduction’ to alternative care systems in Central and South America (CSA). We particularly hope that the scope of this study will contribute to a wider understanding of ‘institutional’ practices in CSA. To help achieve this, we provide context- specific definitions and concepts of institutionalisation and alternative care, and identify similarities, differences, challenges, and achievements in the countries under study.
