This paper examines the negative impact of institutional care in central eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltics region. It promotes community-based care alternatives and provides statistics. It also includes a list of useful resources addressing orphaned and vulnerable children.

An account of the massive child welfare crisis in Romania which erupted from a movement in Romania during its communist regime to institutionalize thousands of children. This paper also reports the efforts of NGO’s, PVO’s and the international communities to reverse the damage after the fall of communism and also where the efforts need to be directed.

Analyzes discrimination against minorities in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Suggests projects to counter discrimination and includes points for good practices in dealing with prejudice.

Outlines national efforts to disarm, demobilize, and reintegrate former child soldiers with respect to specific political contexts. Includes lessons learned, future challenges, and recommendations.

This report reviews childcare policy for separated children in the Central Europe and the Balkan States. It emphasizes the need to establish training, resources and effective procedures in order to meet the standards outlined in the Statement of Good Practice. Data from Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia is presented.

The purpose of this report is to document the levels of child abandonment and de-institutionalization as an indicator of the quality of social transformation during the transition decade (1990-2000).

A study on children with disabilities in the context of family breakdown. Includes overviews and statistics from 10 countries, a call for strengthened family support services, and draft guidelines on how child agencies can better mainstream these issues into their work.

Country report of Romania on the situation of children in residential care in anticipation of the Second International Conference on Children and Residential Care: New Strategies for a New Millennium, to be held in Stockholm 12 – 15 May 2003.

Report assessing the overall features of children in residential care institutions with consideration for families of origin, gender, socioeconomic status and type of institution.

A paper describing a study that reviewed the role of institutional care in Albania, Armenia, Latvia, Lithuiania and Romania, where the World Bank worked to develop community based care social services and move away from large residential institutions that according to the paper have deleterious affects on the nations and on the people who live in them. Particularly, the study focuses on the use of residential institutions by children, people with disabilities and the frail and isolated elderly.