Title:
The challenges of out-of-home care
Authors:
Cantwell, N.
Year:
2005
Serial number:
105
Journal:
Early Childhood Matters
Pages:
4
-
14
ISSN:
1387-9553
Language:
eng
Subject:
Culture, Society and Religion
Keywords:
children
Abstract:
Research is virtually unanimous in pointing out the high risk of institutional placements causing serious long-term damage to children under 3 or even under 5 years of age. In the face of the evidence, few would now disagree that institutional settings (in contrast to certain other kinds of ‘residential care’) cannot give young children the kind of environment they need to develop fully and harmoniously, regardless of the overall quality of care provided. Over the past thirty or so years, ‘de-institutionalisation’ has therefore gradually become the watchword in an increasing number of countries, with concomitant efforts to promote ‘family-based’ care or ‘family-type’ residential units. Similarly, the aim must surely now be to avoid as far as possible uprooting children from their communities and cultures when an alternative care solution has to be envisaged, whether temporarily or permanently.
Organization:
Bernard van Leer Foundation
Category:
Research
Right:
© 2005 Bernard van Leer Foundation
Document type:
E-article
File:
124399.pdf