Displaying 31 - 40 of 77
A large number of children are currently living in alternative care. The relationship they establish with their caregivers can play a significant role in their development. However, not much literature examines the caregivers’ relationship with children, other staff and the organisation. The aim of this review is to analyse the existing published studies regarding these caregivers’ relationships, with a focus on programs in South Asia. The review analysis is also based on first-hand experiences shared by the caregivers working with children in alternative care in India. These findings are…
Abstract
A descriptive study was undertaken to assess self-esteem and its associated factors among adolescents living in orphanage and with parents at home in a selected orphanage and community, West Bengal with the objectives to assess level of self-esteem among adolescents living in orphanage and in home and to find out the associated factors related to self-esteem. Conceptual framework for the study was based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Asemi-structured demographic proforma, Rosenberg self-esteem scale and a semi-structured interview schedule on associated factors of self-esteem was…
Abstract
The international human rights law and policy makers establish the primacy of family for a child and accord a high priority to the continuum of care. India has recently been advocating for a transition from institutionalisation to the deinstitutionalisation of children in need of care and protection. Prevailing legislation and guidelines in India including the Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act) 2015, the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), the New Adoption Guidelines 2016 and Regulations 2017, the Model Guidelines for Foster Care 2016, and Supreme Court rulings advocate for the…
Estimates suggest that approximately one million adolescents age out of institutionalized care in India every year (Dutta, 2016). Unfortunately, little is known about their post-transition experiences, specifically within the context of after-care programs. This study aimed to describe and understand adolescent girls’ subjective experiences of life in an after-care facility after transitioning out of institutionalized care in Delhi, India. A Qualitative approach - Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith et al., 2010) - was employed to answer the central research question: What are the…
Abstract
Background
Child well-being is associated with caregiver mental health. Research has focused on the absence or presence of mental health problems, such as depression, in caregivers. However, positive mental health – defined as the presence of positive emotions, psychological functioning, and social functioning – likely prevents depression and in caregivers may benefit children more than the mere absence of mental health problems. Little attention has been given to how caregivers sustain positive mental health, particularly when doing challenging work in…
The alarming prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) across the globe demands scrutinization of the present mechanisms in place to protect children from abuse. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child acknowledges that the family is the natural environment for the development and well-being of children. However, historically, children throughout South Asia have suffered homelessness, neglect and deprivation due to factors such as broken homes, lack of financial resources, physical and sexual abuse, and the age-old tradition of migrating parents in search of a better life,…
Abstract
Background
Children may suffer from a wide range of behavioral problems, but children living under conditions of perpetual stress and trauma and experiencing breakdown of family structures are tremendously affected.
Methods
A cross-sectional comparative descriptive study was conducted among 300 children of age 6-12 years from a pediatric outpatient department of a selected hospital and 300 children from selected orphanages in Kolkata to compare the prevalence of behavioral disorders in children under parental care and out of parental care using Strengths and Difficulties…
ABSTRACT
The scale and extent of violence towards children in different settings is increasingly well documented. However, few studies have attempted to draw on children’s perspectives to understand the linkages between forms of violence, as well as the factors that contribute to, and sustain, violence. We draw together findings from a collaborative project between UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti and Young Lives, a 15-year longitudinal cohort study of children growing up in poverty in Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam. This paper highlights findings relating to (1) the importance of…
Aftercare is an often-neglected aspect of the alternative care system in most parts of the world. Care leavers therefore struggle with uncertainty and the lack of specialised services to cope with independent living. Care leavers often consider themselves excluded and unable to socially integrate. This is especially relevant in the context of children with difficult backgrounds such as children of women in prostitution. This paper from the Institutionalised Children: Explorations and Beyond Special Issue on Aftercare provides an…
The transition process into adulthood from adolescence is a difficult period for many young adults. It is especially taxing for orphaned and separated children (OSC) populations, who tend to have traumatic past histories and inconsistent psychosocial support systems. Due to such adverse factors, OSCs may be more vulnerable to mental health risks during transition and beyond. However, there is currently limited research on the difficulties OSCs face during this period and how they influence their mental and emotional well-being. This study from the …