Alternative Care Of Children Research Articles

Children’s experiences of alternative care in mainland Southeast Asia – A scoping review of literature

• A review of research that explores children’s experiences of RCSs in the SE Asia. • 23 available studies had used a variety of qualitative research methods. • Adult research informants were often used to report their perceptions of the children’s experiences. • No studies explored the contexts of the residential care settings. The potential harm caused by Residential Care Settings (RCSs) on children’s development is well documented. However, there appears to be a paucity of published research on RCSs across mainland Southeast Asia. This scoping review focuses on available research articles that directly, or indirectly, engage with children to explore their experiences of living in RCSs in the region. A comprehensive search of four digital academic libraries was conducted, and 23 articles were included in the review. Most of the studies identified were on residential care settings in Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia, with no studies identified from Myanmar or Vietnam. The review found that the 23 available studies had used a variety of qualitative research methods to document children’s experiences of care. However, findings reveal that adult research informants were often used to report their perceptions of the children’s experiences. As a result, in some countries like Thailand, there is currently an absence of studies that have engaged directly with children. The review highlights clear research gaps, for example, no studies were found that explored the historical context, purpose, or culture of the residential care settings. Accordingly, this review argues that it is important for further research to address these gaps, as this missing empirical evidence could contribute to improving alternative care for children and potentially support the growing movement towards family-based care in the region.

‘When will I be free’: Lessons from COVID-19 for Child Protection in South Africa

BackgroundCOVID-19 has highlighted and amplified structural inequalities; drawing attention to issues of racism, poverty, xenophobia as well as arguably ineffective government policies and procedures. In South Africa, the pandemic and the resultant national lockdown have highlighted the shortcomings in the protection and care of children. Children in alternative care are particularly at risk as a result of disrupted and uncoordinated service delivery. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the experiences and impact of the pandemic and the resulting social isolation on the wellbeing and protection of children living in a residential care facility. Methods and participantsWe used qualitative, participatory approaches – specifically draw-and-write methods – to engage with 32 children (average age = 13.5 years) living in a residential care facility in Gauteng. FindingsChildren in care demonstrated an awareness of the socio-economic difficulties facing communities in South Africa, and shared deep concerns about the safety, well-being and welfare of parents and siblings. Although they expressed frustration at the lack of contact with family members, they acknowledged the resources they had access to in a residential care facility, which enabled them to cope and which ensured their safety. Discussion and conclusionWe focus our discussion on the necessity of a systemic response to child welfare, including a coordinated approach by policy makers, government departments and child welfare systems to address the structural factors at the root of inequality and inadequate, unacceptable care. This response is essential not only during COVID-19 but also in pre- and post-pandemic context.

The LPI as an Effective Ground-level Strategy for the Deinstitutionalisation and Quality Alternative Care of Children

Deinstitutionalisation and quality alternative care is a topic that is widely discussed in search of policies, strategies and good practices. This issue affects all children directly or indirectly. It is very pertinent to the South Asia region. Children who are in institutional care require deinstitutionalisation process that involves both prevention and a range of alternative care options that are community-based, family-based or family-like care. The Local Process Initiative (LPI), which was implemented in the Devinuwara Divisional Secretariat Division (DSD) in the Matara District of Sri Lanka, is an effective strategy that demonstrates deinstitutionalisation and quality alternative care. SOS Children’s Villages of Sri Lanka in seven locations including Devinuwara DSD since 2017 have carried out the LPI process successfully. It has generated positive outcomes especially in terms of strengthening the ground-level state mechanism for deinstitutionalisation and alternative care for children. The divisional secretary is the lead person in the ‘locational circle’ formed in this process, which composes of a range of field-level government officers involved in childcare and community development as they are the first point of contact for issues related to children and families. The government officers are considered the ‘change agents’, and their empowerment is at the centre of the LPI strategy and its success. From the LPI process in the Devinuwara DSD, it is expected to develop a model to avoid family separation. In here, it is expected to develop a ground-level deinstitutionalisation and a quality alternative care strategy which incorporate solutions from biological, psychological and sociological perspectives to build confidence of stakeholders on deinstitutionalisation and quality alternative care for children, and document evidence including success stories in order to support deinstitutionalisation and quality alternative care of children. This article offers an LPI process in the Devinuwara DSD as an effective strategy for the deinstitutionalisation and quality alternative care of children in South Asia.

Deinstitutionalisation and the Best Interest of the Child: The Case of Rwanda and Lessons for South Asia

The ‘deinstitutionalisation’ (DI) movement, also known as ‘care reforms’, is spreading rapidly across the globe, gaining momentum with the growing understanding among both practitioners and policy makers of the harmful effects of institutionalisation on the development and well-being of children as well as the strengthening of the child rights discourse. This has led to a growing international trend towards the development of, and a strong belief in, family-based care options for children deprived of parental care, away from large-scale institutions. This trend is reflected in and supported by international frameworks guiding the care of children, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and in particular the United National Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, which was hailed in 2009. These instruments recognise that a caring and protective family is central to a child’s development, that governments should fulfil children’s right to quality care in families of origin and in alternative care and that institutionalisation of a child should be discouraged. DI processes are, however, not simple and straightforward as there are many challenges and complexities in their cross-cultural implementation. Even though unequivocally agreed by all stakeholders that the ‘best interest of the child’ should be at the heart of such care reform processes, its actual practice can often contradict such understandings as it gets submerged in numerous other considerations, constraints and challenges. This article analyses some of the dominant DI trends prevailing at present, in particular the primacy of family-based care and the misconceptions associated with the suitability of residential care, illustrated by the experience of SOS Children’s Villages in the DI process and its outcomes in Rwanda. The analysis is premised on the framework of the UN guidelines for the alternative care of children and strives to understand whether DI as it is practiced in Rwanda is aligned with the principles of ‘necessity’, ‘suitability’ and the ‘best interest of the child’ as stipulated in the Guidelines. The attempt is to draw lessons for South Asia from the success as well as the challenges faced in Rwanda, as many governments in South Asia progressively join the DI movement. It is critical for all child-focused international non-governmental organization/ non-governmental organizations (INGOs/NGOs) in Asia to understand the UNGL, learn from different experiences about the challenges of DI and prepare to engage with policy makers. One of the most important lessons from the Rwanda experience is that the ‘quality’ of care should take precedence over the ‘form’ of care, and that quality is not always guaranteed in family-based care. The shift in the positionality of the government of Rwanda and their willingness to rethink their approach to DI particularly in terms of recognising quality residential care is commendable. This needs to be taken as a precedence by other governments across the world including in South Asia—especially by those who are truly interested in ensuring the best interest of children who have lost the care of their parents.

Too Vulnerable to Participate? Challenges for Meaningful Participation in Research With Children in Alternative Care and Adoption

In recent years, a significant amount of research has been conducted with children from a rights perspective, especially concerning the right to be heard and participate. However, children living in alternative care and adoption have often been excluded from participating in research because they are viewed as vulnerable children who lack agency and also due to an adult-centric perspective of protection. In this article, we challenge this idea under the view that participation is a main component of protection, children are experts in their own experiences, and their views should be considered through participative research design and methods. Particular challenges that protection contexts impose for research are analyzed and several ways in which these challenges can be faced are outlined. We provide principles and examples that can be implemented to ensure that children who live in alternative care or adoption have the right as any child to be informed, be listened to, and have their views considered regarding topics that affect them.

LEGAL PERSPECTIVE OF CHILD ADOPTION UNDER THE NIGERIAN LAW

Adoption is the process which creates a parent-child relationship between the adopted child and the adoptive parents with all the rights ,privileges and responsibilities that attach to that relationship. Adoption severs a relationship between the child and the natural parents or guardians.The institution of adoption is important in society because it touches on status and therefore affects the rights and obligations of an adopted person. Adoption is recognized as one of the forms of alternative care for children who have been temporarily or permanently deprived of their family environment and also for children who are unable to remain in their family environment. This paper seeks to examine the adoption of a child under the Nigerian lawie. The statutory law, the customary Law ,procedure for adoption under Nigerian Lawand the legal effect of adoption of a child under the Nigerian Law.

Biological parents of children in alternative care in the discourses of child welfare professionals

Biological parents of children in alternative care in the discourses of child welfare professionals

Aftercare of Children in Alternative Care: An Analysis of the International and National Legal Framework from the Prism of Human Rights

Aftercare is an essential element in the life after institutionalised care for a child. A good aftercare programme ensures that the children are given a chance at living a normal life. Children in institutionalised care are often discriminated and abused for their background. During their time in such institutions, they are generally shielded from such abuse but in the real world, having such a background creates many hurdles for children. Consequently, aftercare forms an integral part of a child in institutionalised care. The United Nations is the nodal body within the international framework working towards preservation and promotion of human rights of all. The General Assembly in 2010 adopted a resolution, titled, Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children. In the resolution, the UN provides numerous guidelines for aftercare which may be utilised as standards for aftercare. With this background, this study is aimed at studying the concept of aftercare from the prism of human rights and the international framework in context of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN resolution, Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children. Furthermore, the research is aimed at analysing the legal provisions and standards provided within the Indian legal system and how far it is attuned to the international standards. This study is an endeavour to correlate the international and national provisions to understand the concept of aftercare in a comprehensive manner.

Barriers to childcare in Children's Homes in Ghana: Caregivers' solutions

The care of children in need of alternative care is a matter of concern to government, nongovernmental organisations and international communities. Understanding the barriers to childcare and knowing the measures to overcome them are important in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children in alternative care. Few studies exist on caregivers' suggestions of solutions to overcome barriers to childcare in Children's Homes in Ghana. Drawing on in-depth semi-structured interviews with 37 caregivers in two Children's Homes in Ghana, this study sought to explore caregivers' suggestions of solutions to barriers in childcare. This study adopted a phenomenological approach, reporting findings in participants' own words. The study findings revealed ensuring gender balance, the need for staff and interdisciplinary teams, and financially motivating caregivers as measures to overcome barriers in childcare. Professionals working with children in alternative care and policymakers should pay attention to these solutions to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children in care.

Ghana's community-based primary health care: Why women and children are ‘disadvantaged’ by its implementation

Policy analysis on why women and children in low- and middle-income settings are still disadvantaged by access to appropriate care despite Primary Health Care (PHC) programmes implementation is limited. Drawing on the street-level bureaucracy theory, we explored how and why frontline providers (FLP) actions on their own and in interaction with health system factors shape Ghana's community-based PHC implementation to the disadvantage of women and children accessing and using health services. This was a qualitative study conducted in 4 communities drawn from rural and urban districts of the Upper West region. Data were collected from 8 focus group discussions with community informants, 73 in-depth interviews with clients, 13 in-depth interviews with district health managers and FLP, and observations. Data were recorded, transcribed and coded deductively and inductively for themes with the aid of Nvivo 11 software. Findings showed that apart from FLP frequent lateness to, and absenteeism from work, that affected care seeking for children, their exercise of discretionary power in determining children who deserve care over others had ripple effects: families experienced financial hardships in seeking alternative care for children, and avoided that by managing symptoms with care provided in non-traditional spaces. FLP adverse behaviours were driven by weak implementation structures embedded in the district health systems. Basic obstetric facilities such as labour room, infusion stand, and beds for deliveries, detention and palpation were lacking prompting FLP to cope by conducting deliveries using a patchwork of improvised delivery methods which worked out to encourage unassisted home deliveries. Perceived poor conditions of service weakened FLP commitment to quality maternal and child care delivery. Findings suggest the need for strategies to induce behaviour change in FLP, strengthen district administrative structures, and improve on the supply chain and logistics system to address gaps in CHPS maternal and child care delivery.

Aftercare of children in alternative care: An analysis of the international and national legal framework from the prism of human rights

Aftercare of children in alternative care: An analysis of the international and national legal framework from the prism of human rights

SOS Children’s Village Lekenik – A positive Example of Alternative Care for Children and Youth

The Convention on the Rights of the Child, among numerous other documents, states that the best way for a child to grow up is in their biological family. Sadly, however, sometimes, in situations where parents are unable to provide the necessary care for their children, other adults take over, in this case, alternative care. Forms of alternative care include placing the child with relatives, in childcare homes, family-type children’s homes or foster families. The SOS Children’s Village Lekenik is one example of two active SOS villages in the Republic of Croatia. This paper focuses on the role of the SOS mom. The paper gives a brief overview of the selection and education of SOS moms, how an SOS family functions, and the workplace challenges and successes involved. As key elements in working with children in alternative care, emphasis is placed on love, patience and understanding of every child’s individual needs. Keywords: Alternative care, family, SOS mom, SOS village.

1. One-day Consultation on ‘Trauma-informed Care: Concepts & Practices for Children in Alternative Care’, New Delhi, India

1. One-day Consultation on ‘Trauma-informed Care: Concepts & Practices for Children in Alternative Care’, New Delhi, India

1. The Third Biennial International Conference on Alternative Care for Children: with Special Focus on South Asia

1. The Third Biennial International Conference on Alternative Care for Children: with Special Focus on South Asia

4. Two-day Workshop on Alternative Care for Children, New Delhi

4. Two-day Workshop on Alternative Care for Children, New Delhi

Investing in children: The best way to prevent separation from parents and families

The reliable and disaggregated data on children deprived of family care, living in different forms of public care is essential information to implement the UN Guidelines on Alternative Care of Children and its principle on necessity and suitability. At the same time all needed information and data would also be needed on all forms of support, universal, targeted and specialized services provided or not provided to children and their families locally to prevent separation of children, on different forms of informal care. While there have been many efforts made to prevent institutionalization of children worldwide especially in the most developed countries, placement of children out of their families for different reasons, many of them closely related to poverty is still too often accepted. Some current programs in Europe described in the article can contribute to better implementation of the current policies and recommendations globally, however there is a parallel movement towards emphasizing the need and value of institutional care and the lack of alternatives in many cases, that should also be taken into consideration. More research, evidence and data is needed to defend the arguments for deinstitutionalization.

Estimating the number of children in formal alternative care: Challenges and results

Given the relatively large body of literature documenting the adverse impacts of institutionalization on children’s developmental outcomes and well-being, it is essential that countries work towards reducing the number of children in alternative care (particularly institutional care), and, when possible, reunite children with their families. In order to do so, reliable estimates of the numbers of children living in such settings are essential. However, many countries still lack functional administrative systems for enumerating children living outside of family care.The purpose of this paper is to provide a snapshot of the availability and coverage of data on children living in residential and foster care from some 142 countries covering more than 80 per cent of the world’s children. Utilizing these country-level figures, it is estimated that approximately 2.7 million children between the ages of 0 and 17 years could be living in institutional care worldwide. Where possible, the article also presents regional estimates of the number of children living in residential and foster care.This work represents an important step to systematically identify and compile sources of data on children in alternative care and provides updated global and regional estimates on the magnitude of the issue. Its findings contribute to raising awareness of the urgent need to strengthen the capacity of countries to improve national systems for counting, monitoring and reporting on these vulnerable children.

The 3rd Biennial International Conference on Alternative care for Children: with focus on South Asia, March 16-17, 2018, India

The 3rd Biennial International Conference on Alternative care for Children: with focus on South Asia, March 16-17, 2018, India

Two-Day Workshop on Alternative Care for Children

Two-Day Workshop on Alternative Care for Children

Child Rights Imperatives for Children in Alternative Care

Child Rights Imperatives for Children in Alternative Care