In this opinion piece, written for the Huffington Post, the author explains her views on the institutionalization of children, particularly infants and children under five years old. According to the author, orphanages pose profound dangers for infants and should be abolished the world over. The author believes that the idea of a “good orphanage” for young children is a myth and, in actuality, among babies who are placed in orphanages there tend to be higher death rates, higher rates of mental illness, and higher rates of behavioral and psychological problems than in the general non-institutionalized population. These outcomes are due to a lack of basic love and physical affection, says the author, which are needed to stimulate growth hormone and immune system development. However, the author does recognize that children can be remarkably resilient if they later receive intense affection, despite the harmful effects of orphanage living in their early years.
The author believes that orphanages cannot provide the levels of intensive individual care that infants need to generate enough growth hormone and empathy. She believes, instead, that emphasis should be placed on finding nurturing foster care environments for children without parental care, which she says is actually a less expensive option than institutionalizing infants. Baby orphanages still exist today, says the author, because of cultural beliefs that orphanages aren't harmful and funding streams that preferentially provide money to institutions, not individual families. Ultimately, the author highlights the need to raise awareness of the issue and prod governments and funding agencies to provide humane, family-based care to all children.