Long-term Effects of Early Childhood Separation and Group Care

The Orphans of Eritrea: What are the Choices?

“…The combined findings indicate that high ratings on the SRP and PRS adaptive scales and low ratings on the clinical scales were associated with a nurturing and authoritative style of parenting, a "democratic" process for making family decisions, organized activities that encouraged the reintegration of children into their community, and the transmission of prosocial values (see also Levy, 1996;Maas, 1963;Richman, 1993;Wolins, 1969Wolins, , 1970. Although no causal inferences can be drawn from these associations, they reinforce the conclusion that patterns of residential group care that are based on child-centered principles can, when circumstances require it, provide an emotionally supportive social environment as well as an effective substitute for a family setting.…”

“…The consensus among child care professionals holds that unaccompanied children are likely to become emotionally disturbed, socially isolated, or delinquent adults when they are placed in residential group care at an early age (Bowlby, 1960; Frank, Klass, Earls, & Eisenberg, 1996; Johnson, 2002; Provence & Lipton, 1962; Sigal, Perry, Rossignol, & Ouimet, 2003). Conversely, a number of comprehensive follow-up studies have shown that the majority of dependent children who were placed in child-centered residential group care at or beyond preschool age grow up to become psychologically healthy, socially integrated, and economically productive adults (Arieli, Beker, & Kashti, 2001; Levy, 1996; Maas, 1963; McKenzie, 1999; Myers & Ritt-ner, 2001; Trotzkey, 1930; Zmora, 1994). Categorical generalizations about the serious adverse consequences or about the potential benefits of placing unaccompanied children in residential group care are therefore likely to be wrong.…”