The what, why and how of deinstitutionalisation...A background of info so I can tell you what I've been working on...

I sat down to summarise what I had been working on at Hope for Himalayan Kids for the last two weeks as it has been very busy. Then I realised I would be talking about a bunch of stuff that would not make sense to average Jo, as it was unknown to me a couple of months ago myself.
So todays lesson is Deinstitutionalisation 101! 

The What, Why, How and Who of Deinstitutionalisation in the context of Children's Residential Centers in Nepal.

Quick facts and figures about child centres in Nepal:

• The majority of children living in children's residential centres (commonly referred to as orphanages/children’s homes) in Nepal have family or relatives with whom they could live if given appropriate support.
• There are more than 523 registered (many more unregistered, approximately the same number again) children’s residential centres in Nepal.
• More than two thirds of these centres have been assessed by the Nepal Government as being sub-standard thus placing thousands of children at risk.

Deinstitutionalisation

What?

• Deinstitutionalisation is an internationally recognised method of ensuring child protection.

• It is the process of transforming child care from an institutionalised system to a community and family based care model. 
• Deinsitutionalisation focuses on preventing unnecessary admissions to child centres, finding alternative care for those already residing in child centres, and continuing to support the children and their families in the community. 
• It results in less reliance on child residential centres which are not in the best interests of children. 
• Deinstitutionalisation provides a wide range of integrated community-based

and small family based care. It gives children the individual care and love they deserve and need to thrive.

• Deinstitutionalisation is the overall objective of the work of Hope for Himalayan Kids in Pokhara and the surrounding districts.

How?

1) Family support program: HFHK works with at-risk children, their families and the community to prevent children being unnecessarily institutionalized in Nepal. This includes providing an integrated support service, advocacy and awareness so that the child can remain in their home and community.

2) Alternative care development: HFHK finds and develops appropriate alternative care for Nepali children in the community instead of institutions. This involves working cooperatively with the Nepali Government to

implement legislative change for formal care arrangements. A Memorandum of Understanding was developed and signed between the Nepali Government and HFHK in regards to deinstitutionalisation becoming child protection policy in the future. Until such time HFHK works with local authorities and the community to develop informal alternative care arrangements.

 3) Alternative care management HFHK formulates long term care plans for each child currently residing child centres. Individual assessments lead to sourcing the most appropriate permanent alternative care arrangement. This may include tracing and reintegrating with original family, foster care, small group homes or supported independent living.

 (To view recent case examples of alternative care success stories please visit the website)

Why?

• It is globally accepted from a child protection perspective that institutions or child residential centres  are harmful to children and a wholly inadequate system of caring for children. 

Key reasons to deinstitutionalise:

• The negative effects on children’s health, development and wellbeing: In many institutions, the standard of care is poor. Many children are abused and neglected. Children under three, in particular, are at risk of permanent developmental damage by not being cared for in family based situations. For all children, long term stays in institutions can have a lasting negative

impact. CHildren in institutions are at a far higher risk for human rights atrocities including physical, sexual abuse and exploitation.

• The financial burden: It is a common misconception that institutions are a cost effective model of care. Research has shown that institutions can be up to six times more expensive than family based care. Donors who support institutions are inadvertently diverting essential resources away from more positive and cost effective family based options.

Who?

Hope for Himalayan Kids (HFHK) has been registered with both the Nepal Government and the Social Welfare Council since July 2006 as a Non Government Organization focusing on child protection through deinstitutionalisation. HFHK's

registration allows it to work anywhere in Nepal. Currently, HFHK is based in Pokhara and its work area is focused in

the Western Region. HFHK also has an Australian entity which focusses on awareness and fundraising.

Email: info@hopeforhimalayankids.org

www.hopeforhimalayankids.org