Street children in Russia: steps to prevention

Abstract

This article examines the historical evolution of the development of social policy toward street children in Russia and makes recommendations for prevention. The historical examination begins with the Soviet period, when statistics on social problems were not publicly known. It continues through the post-Soviet period when there was an emerging awareness about the increasing number of abused, abandoned children and children living on the streets. Etiological factors, such as child maltreatment and parental substance abuse, are then discussed. Based on these etiological factors, the article then proposes a model in which existing institutions and professionals are supported in facilitating an integrated system of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. This includes improving child protection services and interventions to prevent children leaving their homes, early identification of children who are becoming involved in street life and a continuum of care for children who cannot return home.

Drug use among street children and adolescents: what helps?

“…Some authors have demonstrated that there are important stages in childhood and adolescence in which these children and adolescents are more sensitive to interventions. Our findings corroborate results from other countries concerning a population excluded from basic rights that are fully necessary to their development 4,6,8,9,11,18,26 . Accordingly, the findings from the current study present evidence of important circumstances that should be taken into account when formulating possible interventions aimed at this population.…”

“…One of the most disputed protective factors in the literature are family bonds 13,26,28 . In the current study, both family bonds and presence of a family member together with the adolescent were inversely associated with frequent or heavy drug use.…”

Children who work in the street in Izmir, Turkey

“…Children working on the street perform many similar tasks in other parts of the world. For example, in Russia children are involved in stealing/robbery, collecting empty bottles, cleaning car windows, washing cars, and carrying loads (Balachova, Bonner, & Levy, 2009); in Greece they sell gum, flowers, and water, clean car windows, steal and loiter (Altanis & Goddard, 2004); and in Vietnam children shine shoes, vend, do hourly work, collect rubbish, and steal (Hong & Ohno, 2005). In the current study it was established that the majority of children worked to provide for their families, and two-thirds gave all the money they earned to their parents.…”

Local Nonprofit Welfare Provision: The United States and Russia

“…Th e Soviet welfare state funded state-owned enterprises to provide childcare or early childhood education, healthcare, housing, nursing homes, and aft er-school activities. Many government cash benefi ts were delivered through employers, including retirement pensions, stipends for post-secondary students, and cash payments to new mothers (Balachova, Bonner & Levy, 2008;Zimakova, 1993). At times, ineffi ciencies emerged due to duplication between state services provided through fi rms and those delivered by local government (Manning & Shaw, 1998).…”