Author: Hope and Homes for Children, University of Liverpool
Date: August 2004
Themes: Romania, Europe, Good Practice Guide
Research and practice over sixty years demonstrates the harmful effects of institutionalisation upon children. The purpose of this document is to assist policy makers, practitioners and other concerned individuals to transform systems of institutional care into those based on family and community support.
Those who have been involved in the process of closing a residential care institution and providing alternative forms of care will have met many challenges, obstacles and dilemmas along the way.
The guidance in this manual is based on current best practices in de-institutionalising children from residential care, identified from the experience of childcare professionals across the European region.
The manual attempts to alert the reader to some of the challenges and obstacles and offers advice and practical methods for addressing them. It considers the process of de-institutionalisation in its entire complexity.
