EFFECTIVENESS OF INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN IN NEED OF CARE AND PROTECTION: A REVIEW

The Nation’s development depends on the development of children. Child must be encouraged to live in a family environment which gives an atmosphere of happiness, understanding, love, affection and emotional support for development of child’s personality. The growth, development and personality of children is depended on the environment where the children grown up. Children are being institutionalized with various reasons such as destitution due to death of parents, poverty, inability of parents, unconducive family environment and health issues. As the children are living in the institutions away from their parents, it effects on physical, psychological and emotional development of children. The Government mandated child care institutions to maintain the minimum standards for providing effective rehabilitation services for children in need of care and protection. The child care institutions were managed by Government and Non-Government Organisations. Many studies have been conducted to see the services provided by child care institutions really meeting the needs of the children for their development to attain their goals and mainstreaming in the society. KEY WORDS: Vulnerability, protection, institutions, rehabilitation, development.

Social Attitudes Towards the Future in Graduates of Orphan Organizations

Despite the efforts of the state and non-profit organizations (hereinafter — NPOs), the problems of orphans’ adaptation and integration into the society persist. Studies of speech behavioral models in graduates of child care institutions of some non-profit organizations reveal the antinomic nature of their programs and goals. These contradictions revolve around the process of formation of dependent social attitudes in orphaned children. The task of our research is to assess the role that NPOs play in the formation of certain social attitudes of graduates of child care (boarding) institutions (ex-orphanages).Using the verbal and communicative method of interviewing and through the analysis of the outreach programs provided by NPOs we show that the existing programs of post-orphanage adaptation, regardless of their universal yet relevant character and the diversity of the employed tools, cannot address the whole variety of emerging problems and challenges.

SUPPORT FOR YOUTH LEAVING CARE: A NATIONAL RESEARCH STUDY, INDIA

This paper is a condensed version of a study entitled “Beyond 18: Leaving Child Care Institutions — A Study of Aftercare Practices in Five States of India”, conducted and published in 2019 by Udayan Care, a charitable organisation, with support from UNICEF India and Tata Trusts. This research involved the participation of care leavers, government functionaries, duty-bearers, and civil society practitioners. It found that upon turning 18, youth transitioning out of child care institutions to independent life in India experience many challenges, such as securing housing and identity documents; accessing education, skill development, and employment opportunities; and garnering psychosocial support. This study also showed that absent or inadequate aftercare support during transition increases care leavers’ vulnerabilities to homelessness, unemployment, substance misuse, and ruptured social relationships. It also found that continued aftercare support is necessary to foster independent living skills in these young people and enable their reintegration into mainstream society. While exploring the continuum from child care to aftercare, the researchers developed the concept of a “Sphere of Aftercare”, comprising eight domains of support that are considered essential for a successful transition. The study revealed a lack of transition planning at the level of child care institutions and functionaries and a general lack of understanding of the holistic aftercare needs of youth throughout the eight identified domains. The study also found an absence of clarity about stakeholders’ roles; a lack of data management with regard to the number of youth leaving care, leading to inadequate budget planning; and a lack of adequate monitoring mechanisms to assess care leavers’ outcomes. In light of this study’s findings, policy reforms and ways of developing robust aftercare programmes are recommended in relation to policy, practice, and law.

Youth Experiences of and Views on Un-locked Coercive Placement in Residential Child Care

This article explores Norwegian youth experiences of and views on coercive placement in un-locked residential child care institutions. Inspired by Antonovsky’s salutogenic theory, the article discusses factors that make placement an opportunity for development among youth with serious drug and behavioural problems. The empirical material comes from interviews with 34 youth under and after coercive placement. The findings reveal that coercive placement in un-locked institutions can be helpful and necessary, provided that the institutions have the means available to protect the residents and provide supportive and meaningful treatment content. Factors such as treatment structure, the content of everyday life, clear expectations, and boundaries are discussed as important factors that help the placement to be an opportunity for development among youth with serious drug and behavioural problems.