profile and risks

Disability is one of the primary reasons for the placement of children in residential care across the region.
Studies reveal that poverty, family disruption, alcohol and substance abuse, and distress are also becoming common causes, as evidenced by the fact that most children in institutions have at least one parent living.
In countries with high HIV prevalence, such as Russia and Ukraine, many hospitals keep babies born to HIV-positive mothers under surveillance in a facility for up to 18 months. About 20% of all children born to HIV-positive mothers are growing up in institutions.
Ethnicity can also play a significant role in some countries. For example, Roma children are over-represented in institutional care in countries with significant Roma populations.

Ethnic composition of chilren in residential care in Bulgaria (graph)
(Source: Social Assessment of Child Care in Bulgaria (2000); UNDP, UNDESA, World Bank)

The graph above presents the ethnic composition of children in residential care institutions in Bulgaria The graph shows that Roma, who constitute only 3.7% of the total population in Bulgaria , account for as much as 29% of children in residential care institutions. These data suggest that Roma families are at greater risk of poverty and exclusion from mainstream services, and that the social welfare system continues to rely on child institutionalization as the main response when these families are in need or in crisis.

Risks of institutionalization

Institutionalization is widely recognized as limiting and even harming child development—with present and future implications—especially at key ages and stages of life or if residency is prolonged. Several studies show that children who grew up in residential institutions are less prepared to break the cycle of poverty, more likely to engage in anti-social and self-defeating behaviours and at higher risk of being exposed to exploitation, including human trafficking.

Evaluation report from Moldova:
Life skills education for prevention of trafficking in human beings (PDF)
Reducing the risk of child trafficking through LSBE in child care institutions (Word)

Report from Romania
Flow model institutionalised children in Romania and the determining variables (PDF)

Resources

The situation | Children in public care | Profile of children and risks| Reforming the system| Intercountry adoption