The Social and Vocational Integration of Former Users of the Child Protection System in Romania: A Qualitative Study

Dănuț Bălăuță,Marius Vasiluță Ștefănescu,Alexandru Neagoe,Ovidiu Florin Toderici

doi:10.3390/su11123306

Dănuț Bălăuță, Marius Vasiluță Ștefănescu + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/su11123306

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Abstract

The social and vocational integration of vulnerable groups is an important aspect of social sustainability. Former users of the residential child protection system represent such a group. The purpose of our research was to investigate the social and vocational integration of individuals raised in the child protection system in Romania. Their experiences during and after their time in residential care are analyzed. The research sample was composed of 23 interviewees (18 male and 5 female) with an average age of thirty-five at the time of the interview (SD = 7.49). Our research method was a qualitative one, based on a semi-structured interview. The results paint a generally bleak image of life in such institutions, both before the fall of communism in Romania in December 1989 and subsequently. In addition, the respondents’ transition from institutional life to independent living was full of challenges. Nevertheless, most of the respondents have demonstrated a remarkable level of resilience, based on factors such as education, self-esteem, work, a life partner and the ability to acquire new skills. As a general conclusion, our study has shown that a sustainable social development plan should include social policies which strive for the de-institutionalization of the child protection system by preventing the separation of children from their biological families or, where necessary, by finding family-type solutions for children in difficulty. If institutional childcare is to continue, it must be accompanied by consistent efforts to prepare these children for their transition to independent living.

Highlights

In view of recent academic studies which highlight the social dimension of sustainable development [1,2], it is apparent that the sustainable development of any society must include appropriate strategies for the social and vocational integration of such vulnerable groups as formerly institutionalized youth [3]
It is significant to note that among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which were set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 for the year 2030, among the 17 goals, one sets out to "promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels” [4]
A small amount of research is available to date dealing with the subject matter—the social and vocational integration of young people who were institutionalized in the child protection system in Romania before and after the fall of the communist system in the country

Summary

Introduction

The Child Rights International Network (CRIN) rightly points out that “children are affected by all of the sustainable development goals, whether poverty, hunger, inequality or climate” [6]. Such observations are relevant to those who, for various reasons, did not have the privilege of experiencing childhood in a family environment and who, instead, had to be raised in social care institutions. Sustainable social development must, include adequate solutions and resources for these special challenges which such social groups need to face

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