Child Care Institutions Research Articles

Characterization of Complementary Feeding in Infants of Azogues, Biblián and Déleg

Nursing children consume small amounts of food, the quality is essential and determines the importance of the complementary feeding. Parents must Access nutritional information objective to fix healthy habits that prevent diet-related diseases. Quantitative, correlational study of cross-section, participated 1760 boys and girls from one to three years of public child care units of the cantons Azogues, Bible and Deleg. (919 boys and girls 841). The measurements were frequency of consumption and eating behavior. The results of the 9.77% introduced foods other than breast milk at 4 months and the 62.26% did so at 6 months. Most consumed foods are rice, banana, chicken, broccoli, potato and lentils with average equivalent to the common category and at least consumed quinoa, grape, the rabbit, the zucchini and soy that are in any category. 86.82% of researches say no selection for industrial cereal porridge feed. The results of this research are expected to provide relevant information on the food pattern of local children and enable child care institutions to provide specialized child nutrition support.

Narratives of Adoption

In Hungary, the rate of adoption is much lower compared to the number of children living in institutional care. Adoption provides an opportunity for ceasing the negative factors in the personality development of children in institutional care and reaches a better quality of life. The aim of the research is to reveal whether children's age and the time of adoption affect the development of personality, regarding the attachment relationship between children and parents. Additionally, we would like to map how the personality of adopted children changes after getting to a family, and what the characteristics of its development are. For the retrospective study, an interview method was used, it happened by the adopting parents in case of all the ten included families. The interviews covered the following subjects: the reason for adoption, thoughts related to children, uncertainty factors in connection with adoption, acquaintance periods, the events of the family's home and the difficulties of the family socialization process. The interviews were analyzed by content analysis. The possibility of adoption came up in most of the families included in the research after medical interventions and the acceptance of infertility. The incorrigible and severe health damage of the child was a reason for exclusion in association with the child to be adopted. Four couples had no criteria about the origin. All families reported about uncertainty and fear before adoption. In the moment of adoption, the youngest children were newborns, and the oldest child was six and a half years old when getting to the adopting family. In respect of the examined families, the interval between the submission of the application and getting to the family was between two months and two and a half years. The initial difficulties were greatly different in the cases of newborns and children adopted to an older age. Parents defined the first six weeks as the hardest in case of newborns. The support of the family's background and friends after adoption could be detected in case of eight families, two families experienced the rejection of the grandparents. It is indisputable that adoption as early as possible is the ideal for children. If we know the case history, in case of experiencing a crisis, the arising problems can be treated effectively only by teamwork with the parents and the representatives of related professions. Children have the right to health, a healthy lifestyle, and we should always strive to create optimal conditions.

Scope of Social Work Practice in Childcare Social Welfare Institutions: Policies, Practices and Problems

Children deprived of their primary care are among the most vulnerable segments of the society exposed to violence, exploitation, trafficking, discrimination and all other types of abuse. United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children (1989) acknowledges the rights of such children and hold member states responsible for provision of alternative care considering the best interest of the children in accordance with their national laws. United Nations’ guideline on alternative care were also adopted by UN General Assembly for effective implementation of international instruments regarding the shelter, protection, development, and rehabilitation of children deprived from their primary care. Pakistan, being a member state and signatory to these UN treaties, is bound to reflect the provisions of these international instruments in the domestic policies and execute the same in true letter and spirit. Evidences prove that if not professionally managed, children living and growing up in institutions face difficulties in learning and developing social skills. In Punjab province, different institutions in public & private sectors are providing residential services to children deprived of their primary care. However, the performance of these institutions has been questioned repeatedly due to the constantly reported child abuse cases. Present study aims to explore factors responsible for the current state of affairs by getting views of both practitioners and the beneficiaries. Following a qualitative perspective of research, in-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide with management and resident children of childcare institutions. The findings of the study identified multiple policy and administrative issues affecting the working of these institutions and helped in understanding the existing situation of these institutions in Punjab Province. This study will be helpful in determining the needs and issues faced by the case managers as well as the children to serve their best interest.

Atuação fonoaudiológica em projeto social: estudo preliminar

Introdução: Pesquisas vêm demonstrando a importância dos primeiros anos de vida no desenvolvimento do cérebro. Quando a criança não apresenta o desenvolvimento de linguagem esperado, poderá ter prejuízo em aquisições. Desta forma, a identificação precoce de alterações evita consequências educacionais e sociais desfavoráveis. Objetivo: propor projeto de intervenção fonoaudiológica em instituição de acolhimento de crianças; levantar dados acerca da linguagem das crianças antes e depois da intervenção fonoaudiológica; possibilitar a superação de alterações da linguagem. Métodos: Observação das crianças, em sala de atividades coletivas, por meio do formulário de observação. Em seguida, foram selecionadas crianças com risco para alteração de linguagem e estas foram submetidas a avaliação por meio da Avaliação do Desenvolvimento da Linguagem (ADL) e Avaliação Fonológica da Criança (AFC). As crianças foram estimuladas durante 12 encontros semanais, em grupos, e depois foram reavaliadas. Os dados foram tabulados e analisados comparando-se as avaliações antes e depois da estimulação e relatando-se os dados obtidos pelos questionários respondidos pelas cuidadoras. Resultados: As quatro crianças - 3 meninos e 1 menina - que participaram do estudo tiveram melhora nas avaliações da linguagem após o período de estimulação, 3 modificaram o grau de gravidade do distúrbio de linguagem, e uma superou as alterações de linguagem - “desenvolvimento normal da linguagem” - após a reavaliação. Conclusão: Os relatos das cuidadoras e resultados das reavaliações demonstraram que as intervenções surtiram efeitos positivos e foram relevantes para as crianças, caracterizando uma boa proposta de intervenção coletiva fonoaudiológica.

Understanding the nature and features of the deinstitutionalization process by the future social workers and social educators

The article is devoted to the problem of the readiness of future social workers and social educators for the process of de-institutionalization. The purpose of the article is to describe the separate accents of the deinstitutionalization implementation in Ukraine at the present stage and to reveal the level of students’ understanding of the essence and features of this process. To reveal the essence of the problem of deinstitutionalization, the following theoretical methods are used in the study: analysis, synthesis, systematization, comparison, as well as empirical methods such as questionnaires, conversations, graphical data visualization methods. The essence of deinstitutionalization is revealed as a process of reform, which envisages a transition from an institutional care system to a system providing the upbringing of children in the family or in the close to it conditions. The basis vectors of deinstitutionalization are identified on the way of implementation the National strategy of reforming the institutions of institutional care and education of children in modern conditions. The issues linked to understanding by students (future social workers and social educators) the nature and features of reforming boarding institutions are identified and characterized. It is found that a large number of students do not understand the directions, components and strategic results of deinstitutionalization as an innovation in social work; they have no vision of the negative impact of boarding school on child development. It is also found that students do not sufficiently understand what the best interests of the child are. It is stated that the problem of students' unpreparedness to deinstitutionalization increases the weaknesses and risks of the reform process of boarding school in general. This causes a considerable resistance to change, slowing down the process, its misunderstanding. Based on the mentioned problems, we highlighted the tasks of training students of "Social work" specialty as subjects of deinstitutionalisation process.

Screening of Mothers in a COVID-19 Low-Prevalence Region: Determination of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in 401 Mothers from Rostock by ELISA and Confirmation by Immunofluorescence

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Bei Kindern verläuft die Infektion mit SARS-CoV-2, dem Erreger von COVID-19, in der Regel weniger schwer und häufiger symptomlos als bei Erwachsenen. Kinder können aber diese Infektion u. a. auf vulnerable Erwachsene übertragen. Daher sind zur Zeit Einrichtungen der Kinderbetreuung und Schulen teilweise geschlossen. Methoden Da sich der Infektionsstatus bei Kindern unter 13 Jahren und deren Müttern meist ähnlich darstellt, untersuchten wir bei 401 Rostocker Müttern von Kindern zwischen 1 und 10 Jahren Rachenabstriche auf SARS-CoV-2 und Serumproben auf Antikörper gegen diesen Erreger. Ergebnisse Wir fanden bei keiner der untersuchten Mütter RNA von SARS-CoV-2 im Rachenabstrich. Im ELISA waren IgG-Antikörper in einem Serum positiv, IgA-Antikörper waren in 11 Seren positiv und in 3 Seren grenzwertig. Alle 401 Seren waren im Fluoreszenz-Bestätigungstest (IIFT) mit FITC-markierten IgG-, IgA- und IgM-Antikörpern negativ. Schlussfolgerung Im Untersuchungszeitraum waren bei den getesteten Rostocker Müttern weder RNA von SARS-CoV-2 noch spezifische Antikörper nachweisbar.

A qualitative study of experiences during placement and long-term impact of institutional care: Data from an adult Greek sample

BackgroundThere is growing interest in the long-term impact of institutional care during childhood and/or adolescence. Studies indicate that residential care is associated with poor adult outcomes, including health and mental health problems, lower educational attainment and serious emotional and behavioral difficulties. This is, to our knowledge, the first qualitative study οn a Greek sample. AimsThe aim of the present study was to provide understanding into the past and present experiences of individuals who had resided in a child-care institution during their childhood and/or adolescence and to contribute to the study of the long-term impact of institutional care on adult life. MethodIn depth interviews were conducted with 15 individuals (men and women) who had lived in a child-care institution during their childhood and/or adolescence, followed by qualitative thematic analysis. ResultsAnalysis revealed three distinct cohorts of participants, based on their current age and the time period during which they were placed at the institution. Systematic comparison of the three cohorts revealed that independent living was strenuous and challenging and that, although institutional practices ameliorate, the social and emotional needs of the looked after children and their families become increasingly complex. ConclusionContinuous training and support of the personnel of the institutions, a well-planned transitional period with the active involvement of the individuals, as well as systematic follow-ups, seem necessary in order to ensure better adult outcomes.

Strategie organizacji opieki nad dziećmi w społeczeństwie polskim w perspektywie nierówności społecznych

Celem artykułu jest przyjrzenie się problematyce łączenia życia zawodowego z rodzicielstwem z perspektywy tak zwanej luki w opiece na dziećmi. Luka w opiece jest tutaj definiowana jako brak rozwiązań instytucjonalnych pozwalających na zapewnienie opieki nad małymi dziećmi. Analiza opiera się na badaniach jakościowych przeprowadzonych z polskimi rodzicami dzieci do lat ośmiu. Pokazuje ona, że rozwiązania instytucjonalne polskiej polityki rodzinnej wzmacniają nierówności płciowe i ekonomiczne. Horyzont możliwości zapewnienia opieki przez rodziców o niższych zasobach materialnych zasadniczo różni się od możliwości rodziców o wyższych zasobach. Kobiety mające niższe zasoby w obecnym systemie często są zmuszone do rezygnacji z pracy zawodowej, aby zapewnić opiekę. Natomiast w przypadku rodzin o średnich i wysokich zasobach strategią na zapewnienie opieki są żłobki i zatrudnianie niań. Analiza wskazuje również, że niezależnie od zasobów ekonomicznych, za opiekę przede wszystkim odpowiedzialne są matki.

Developmental and sequenced one-to-one educational intervention (DS1-EI) for autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability: a two-year interim report of a randomized single-blind multicenter controlled trial

BackgroundChildren with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and moderate to severe intellectual disability (ID) face many challenges. There is little evidence-based research into educational settings for children with ID and ASD and in France. Little is known about how this unserved population could benefit from intervention and education. This study assessed the feasibility and efficacy of a new intervention model using an individualized educational approach.MethodsWe conducted a randomized, single-blind controlled trial to assess a novel intervention: the “Developmental and Sequenced One-to-One Intervention (DS1-EI)”. In DS1-EI, trained teachers worked one-to-one with each child in a small classroom setting, offering 10 h per week of the intervention. The focus was on encouraging spontaneous communication, promoting skills through play with peers, supporting positive interactions, and developmental and sequenced learning. We enrolled 5- to 9-year-old children with ASD and ID across 11 French child care institutions for children with co-occurring ASD and ID. Participants were matched in dyads by developmental quotient and randomized to the treatment-as-usual (TAU) group or the DS1-EI group. Independent raters blindly assessed the primary variables: The Childhood Autism Rating scale (CARS) and the Psychoeducational Profile, third edition (PEP-3). The secondary variables included the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale II (VABS-II) and the Clinical Global Assessment Scale (CGAS). Here we perform interim analyses at 24 months.ResultsAt baseline, 72 participants were randomized. Nine patients (5 in the DS1-EI group and 4 in the TAU group) dropped out of the study. Using linear mixed models, both intent-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses at the 12-, 18- and 24-month outcomes showed no significant group nor group-by-time interaction effects. However, we found significant improvements in most primary and secondary variables over time in both groups.ConclusionsThe study did not show that DS1-EI was superior to TAU in treating children with ASD and ID over 24 months. However, the low dropout rate shows that DS1-EI is feasible, and well accepted. As the study is still ongoing, we need to wait for data at 36 months to ensure whether DS1-EI could be recommended.Trial registrationANSM130282B-31 (April 16, 2013) and ACTRN12616000592448. Registered 6 May 2016, retrospectively registered, http://www.anzctr.org.au/

Time and context shaping the transition from out-of-home care to adulthood in Portugal

The difficulties that modern care leavers face on the way to independence are the focus of many studies. The present research illustrates how time and context - operationalised through belonging to different generations, from the previous century to today – has shaped care leavers’ pathways to adulthood in Portugal. To trace these pathways, ten care leavers were selected based on purposeful sampling and snowball methods. To reveal the factors that indicate care leavers’ better life outcomes, interviews with seven experts working with this vulnerable population group were organised. The pathways of male informants look “normal”, even thriving, when compared with the trajectories of the general population of Portugal in the second half of the 20th century, while the experiences of female care leavers sound somewhat traumatising. The timing and sequence of the young cohorts’ transition to adulthood events does not look aberrant compared to the general population. The various factors that determine a care leaver’s better life outcomes emerged as access to the tangible and intangible resources needed to generate human and social capital, and personal agency. Care leavers from older cohorts were empowered by means of education and the support of former residents of out-of-home care institutions. Women from older cohorts could receive education but, due to the social context, they were not expected to build careers. The educational opportunities given to them were very basic and did not afford them the confidence to deal with adversity. Care leavers from younger cohorts seem to lose the advantage of competitive education and the sense of belonging to a large and powerful childcare institution due to the democratisation of the education system and de-institutionalisation of residential care in the country. However, they can stay in care longer, gain practical skills for independent living and benefit from the personalised support of professionals to deal with adversity.

사회 보호 시설 아동과 일반 가정 아동 간 담화 이해 비교

사회 보호 시설 아동과 일반 가정 아동 간 담화 이해 비교

Emotional Distress in the Relationship of Caregivers and Institutionalized Babies.

Institutionalization is an exceptional and temporary measure that occurs when there is a violation of rights; lasting until the family reintegration or, in the impossibility of this, the placement in a substitute family through adoption. Among the main reasons for institutionalization in Brazil are the financial difficulties, abandonment, domestic violence, drug addiction, homelessness of the responsible for the child, sexual abuse, and the loss of parents by death or imprisonment. Although children and adolescents have their rights assured when they are institutionalized, the care provided in these spaces does not include all their needs and demands, which may damage their affective-relational development. Maternal deprivation in the first years of life can be detrimental to the development of these children, if not provided by adequate substitute care. Therefore, to understand which place the institutionalized baby occupies in the imaginary of the social caregivers and, from this, how is established the relationship regarding the care, is of fundamental importance to assess and address the risk factors in child development at this stage of life and in situation of institutionalization. This is an exploratory and descriptive study, developed in a childcare institution, located in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, capable of accommodating up to 20 babies between 0 and 2 years old. Data collection was performed with nine employees, eight social caregivers and one general service assistant who work directly in the care of the institutionalized babies. Drawing-Story with Theme (DS-T) procedures were used. Qualitative analysis was based on Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The appreciation of the nine applied Drawing-Story procedures allowed the establishment of three discussion axes representations of baby, baby care, and early separation process. This study concluded that the difficulties that permeate the context of caregivers’ work are the high turnover of institutionalized children, as well as employees, the difficulty of dealing with processes of bonding and breaking bonds and no recognition of the profession. We highlight that the place that these babies occupy in the imaginary of these caregivers influences the bond they establish with the children hence the care offered to the babies. It is also noteworthy that these caregivers exhibited anguish and suffering from the reasons they believed led the children to be institutionalized.

Inscrutable patchwork: exploring inconsistencies in the history of twentieth-century residential childcare

ABSTRACT Since the 1990s, historical child abuse and violence in institutional care have been widely researched across western countries. This article contributes to this research by exploring the conception of residential childcare in Switzerland. Based on the results of a major national study (an interdisciplinary research network funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation 2014–2018), the author examines the inconsistency between the educational ideals circulating in academic and professional milieus and the long prevailing and often violent pedagogy of obedience in Swiss welfare administration and childcare institutions. How far can this practice be explained by the ambivalent conceptions of a ‘right’, ‘just’ or ‘ideal’ education, which were presented simultaneously and often inconsistently in different places? What role did the heterogeneity of the welfare system play? This article thus contributes to helping social work understand its past. It illuminates the success stories of a still young profession as well as the fateful interventions, omissions, professional closures and conflicts shaping the history of the profession. It argues that the current professional discussion on the basic values that were violated in the past not only urgent but also needs to gain historical depth and critical reflexivity.

Early childcare as arenas of inclusion: the contribution of staff to recognising parents with refugee backgrounds as significant stakeholders

ABSTRACTAccording to the Norwegian Kindergarten Act, educational staff should work in cooperation and understanding with the guardians of a child. In this article, it is argued that staff must ensure sufficient quality of interactions with all parents, provide them with satisfactory information, and facilitate parental participation, in order for children to have a safe educational environment. This study explores the ways in which early childcare staff could recognise parents with refugee backgrounds as significant stakeholders. The study has followed two early childcare institutions through several data collection methods. Eight staff members and the management has participated. Additionally, parents with refugee backgrounds have been interviewed. The analysis demonstrated that in order for staff to sufficiently recognise the parents with refugee backgrounds, the parents had to interact in the confines of the majority’s discourse. Both institutions recognised the parents’ backgrounds on an everyday basis; however, staff did not communicate their responsibility in this regard. Finally, parents generally appeared satisfied regarding their cooperation with staff; nevertheless, the staff had not sufficiently communicated the role and responsibility of early childcare to the parents.

Exploring a sense of belonging for some Forgotten Australians as they age

ABSTRACT In Australia many children were negatively affected by past institutional child care regimes. In this qualitative research, the authors consider the long-term impacts that such care has had on a small sample of one particular population in relation to their sense of belonging as they age. This population is known as Forgotten Australians and refers to people who lived in this type of care as children prior to deinstitutionalisation in 1974. The findings presented are from the lead author’s 2016 Ph.D study that explored participants’ narrated experiences, utilising hermeneutic phenomenology as the methodology. Interviews were conducted with 21 participants residing in all states and territories of Australia. Key themes that emerged from the data were feelings of social disconnection; the need to construct safe places; and a desire to belong. A major finding is that many participants continue to experience the harmful legacy of their childhoods, manifesting as difficulties integrating into social life despite leaving institutional care 40 or more years ago. The key implications for this cohort as they age are discussed and recommendations are made.

Investigation on demands for antenatal care services among 2 002 pregnant women during the epidemic of COVID-19 in Shanghai

Objective: To identify problems and demands for antenatal care (ANC) among pregnant women in different trimesters of pregnancy in Shanghai for optimizing ANC service during the epidemic of COVID-19. Method: s Organized by maternal and child health care institute in the 16 districts of Shanghai, a cross sectional study was conducted among pregnant women who came to pregnancy registration in the community health centers or attended ANC in midwifery hospitals from February 7 to February 12, 2020. Consented participating women completed a semi-structured online questionnaire voluntarily. Data was analyzed using frequency,chi-square test and scoring. Result: s A total of 2 002 valid questionnaires were collected from 183 community health centers and 67 midwifery hospitals. About 94.6%(1 894/2 002) of the pregnant women worried about being infected during the COVID-19 epidemic, and 14.7% (294/2 002) demanded for psychological consultation. Time-lapse appointments for ANC were requested by 87.7% (1 756/2 002) of the participants for avoiding presenting themselves in people-density places. Compared with other pregnancy trimesters, pregnant women in the second trimester were more willing to reduce the frequency of ANC (35.2% versus 39.5% versus 48.1%, P<0.01). Compared with multiparas, primiparas were more willing to have online consultation and guidance (49.2% versus 63.8%, P<0.01). Regarding the needs for health knowledge on COVID-19, personal protection against 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was the most concerned for pregnant women, and 71.0% (1 421/2 002) of them preferred to obtain knowledge through health applications, official Weibo and WeChat. Conclusions: Pregnant women in Shanghai critically concern about the risk of 2019-nCoV infections, and highly demand knowledge and measures on prevention and protection from COVID-19. They ask for having time-lapse appointments for ANC and online access to health information and services. Maternal and child care institutes should understand the demands of pregnant women, optimize the means of ANC service, and provide tailored and accessible health education and service for the safety of mother and child.

I et spejl, i en gåde

This paper examines and compares two models of quality, which are very influential in the professional work in Danish childcare institutions: The database of Nordic Research in Early Childhood Education and Care, NB-ECEC, and the international quality measurement tool for Early Childhood Education, ECERS-3. The empirical data consists in the observation manuals and guides for both models, along with a number of documents from social educational practice, training and administrative, which refer to the two models. I show the two models to have methodological common ground, methodological positivism, which enable them to function as state simplifications, and have constitutive effects in early childhood education and care practice, as well as research. The two models combine in (re)producing methodological positivism as a naturalized methodology in research into professional practices.

Global prevalence of institutional care for children: a call for change

Global prevalence of institutional care for children: a call for change

Essence and Scope of Strengthening Community-Based Preventive Child Care and Protection Systems in India

This article reflects different programmes and resource components that may be promoted to keep children with either their own family or within alternative family care, satisfying the rights of their overall development. In India, the concept of promoting family-based care mechanisms through government systems has not been fully realised, owing to lack of synergy between resource allocation and existing government programmes, policies and plans of action for child protection. Additionally, the common public discourse is that Child Care Institutions (CCIs) offer suitable care and protection for children outside the parental care. CCIs continue to be identified as the ultimate and the most common response for children at risk. This practice nullifies the scope to explore opportunities for the child to live with their family or in any alternative family care mechanisms. Child in Need Institute (CINI), 1 1 CINI is a national level development organization working on establishing child-friendly communities through its work on health, nutrition, child protection and education for the last forty-five years in India. partnering with Hope and Homes for Children, have analysed the vulnerability factors that led children to arrive at the selected CCIs in Ranchi and Khunti districts of Jharkhand in India. While working with children in the communities, CINI endeavoured to understand the drivers and vulnerabilities leading to family/child separation and what mechanisms could address the vulnerabilities at source and prevent separation. CINI promoted a participatory governance process with the involvement of community-level institutions along with children’s and women’s groups, incubating safe spaces for children that aided in identifying, tracking and promoting multi-sectoral development plans for children at risk.

Trauma-Informed Care in the Childcare and Family Placement Process: Miracle Foundation’s Approach Within Alternative Care in India

Trauma-informed care (TIC) is critical in institutional settings to address not only the trauma of experiences that lead children to be enrolled into alternative care, such as childcare institutions (CCIs), but also the inherent trauma that comes from a child being separated from her or his family. This article looks at how Miracle Foundation applies principles of TIC at every stage: from intake and care at a CCI while awaiting placement, to preparing children and families for transition, and finally to supporting post-placement. Following a brief background of the trauma surrounding institutional settings and its damage on children’s development drawn from existing literature, the article defines the principles of TIC: safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness and empowerment. The narrative then illustrates how these principles are applied with children, families and CCI staff through capacity building, access to counselling and mental health resources and dedicated guidance by Miracle team members throughout the childcare and placement process. Training government officials through a train-the-trainer model equips them to practise a strength-based approach with children and families. This also positions us for a systematic change when it comes to developing all members of the social workforce through system strengthening.