This blog from Hope and Homes for Children critiques a recent 60 Minutes segment that portrayed a Haitian orphanage in a positive light, arguing that such narratives overlook the deeper harms of institutional care. Drawing on extensive research and data, the article explains that most children in Haitian orphanages have living parents and are placed there because of poverty, not orphanhood, with orphanages often creating a “pull effect” that separates families. It highlights strong evidence showing that institutional care negatively impacts children’s cognitive, emotional, and physical development compared to family-based care. Using Haiti as a case study, the piece also raises concerns about the growth of an unregulated “orphanage industry” linked to exploitation and trafficking. Ultimately, it calls on donors and supporters to shift their resources toward strengthening families and community-based care, emphasizing that children’s well-being and rights are best supported in family environments rather than institutions.