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

Abstract

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.

Japanese residential care quality and perceived competency in institutionalized adolescents: A preliminary assessment of the dimensionality of care provision

“…As it is estimated 2.7 million children still live in residential care worldwide (Petrowski, Cappa, & Gross, 2017), gaining more insights into the multidimensional nature of residential rearing has important scientific implications. For countries awaiting the process of "deinstitutionalization" and/or rebuilding a contemporary welfare system, some of these data, if replicated, could have important implications for practice and policymaking.…”

An Event‐Related Potentials Study of Executive Functioning in Adults With a History of Institutionalization

“…It is often characterized by psychosocial deprivation due to the limited amount and low quality of caregiver–child interactions (Muhamedrahimov, Palmov, Nikiforova, Groark, & McCall, 2004). It is estimated that over 2.7 million children left without parental care are raised in institutions worldwide (Petrowski, Cappa, & Gross, 2017). Previous studies demonstrate that institutional care is associated with a variety of developmental deficits in children and adolescents on a behavioral and neurobiological level (Marshall , Fox, & BEIP Core Group, 2004; Nelson, Fox, & Zeanah, 2014).…”

Peer Review #2 of "The nutritional status of children living within institutionalized care: a systematic review (v0.1)"

“…These children are also vulnerable (Baron et al 2001;The Children's Health Care Collaborative Study Group 1994). Though family-based care is the ideal environment for all children, this is not always possible (Petrowski et al 2017; The Children's Health Care Collaborative Study Group 1994).…”