Family-based care for children with disabilities in South Tangerang City.

Abstract

In Indonesia there is a paradigm shift from institution-based care to family-based care. The paradigm shift led to a new regulation that requires all institution-based systems to strengthen and develop an alternative family-based care system. There are not many institution-based care systems for supporting family-based care programs for disabled children. This article explores family support services for families with disabled children in South Tangerang, Indonesia. The study describes challenges and issues, and focuses on efforts of Sayap Ibu Foundation to strengthen the families' capabilities to survive and prepare better futures for their disabled children. The research used a qualitative-descriptive approach by interviewing four staff, six families with children with disabilities, and six community members. The study finds that family-support services have not been able to deliver services and provide the rights appropriate for the significant numbers of children with disabilities. The limited services were caused by scarcity of human resources even though there are volunteers to help support families with disabled children. The result of the study concludes that there is a critical need for communitybased care programs to strengthen support for the families with disabled children to make them feel socially included in society.