This work aimed to investigate issues present in sheltered institutions for children. Main points are related to the reality of sheltering, as well as discussions on the role of carers and their lack of expertise concerning psychological development of sheltered children. Five 2hour weekly observations were conducted and 21 3-to-17-year-old children were observed, as well as their carers. Results pointed to carers' lack of expertise, depriving children of playing and exploring the environment, incapacity of establishing a dialogue with the children, inability to deal with disabled children, exposing children to peers, as well as absence of any sort of affection towards the children. Stemming from the carers' lack of expertise, it is important to reflect on training and support to institutions in the sense that they should not be forced to resort to untrained carers who might jeopardize the sheltered children's affective and social development.
Institutionalization and CarersAccording to Brazilian legislation (Brazil, 2013) institutional sheltering for children and teenagers is an atypical measure, for a short period of time, as a transition to fostering homes.Concerning the carers, their role in children and teenagers' education, basic care, playing and affective relations, protection and socialization is fundamental throughout the institutionalization period to make it possible for them to develop as integral beings (Nogueira & Costa, 2005). Besides, every single detail inside the institution is important, such as the physical structure, furniture, toys, but more importantly, the presence of a carer who is psychologically available to the child he/she is responsible for France (2010).There is a need for professional training of carers in sheltered homes, in the sense that they may feel their work respected, their salary is fair (Halpern, Leite, & Moraes, 2015) and their daily actions be meditated on, for them to understand the impact they have in children's development (Moré & Sperancetta, 2010). The reason is that, although the carers must establish a bond with the children, helping the building of a family environment, they need to avoid feelings of ownership for the children, as they are supposedly sheltered for a brief period of time, till a foster family is found, or they are adopted (Halpern et al., 2015).Recruitment process for carers to work in sheltered homes, although prescribing specific criteria for candidates, such as ability to deal with children and teenagers, to work in groups and capacity to mediate conflicts (Halpern et al., 2015) does not follow those directives in practice. Besides, there is the need for meetings and opportunities to listening and hearing of carers' needs to overcome difficulties. In the absence of
