What is deinstitutionalization?

Deinstitutionalization can be called the process of replacing residential care with a set of alternative services developed to meet children’s needs and comply with their rights. Institutions are a superficial, expensive, inappropriate and centralized approach to child care. Many studies done in different countries have shown that institutions will never be able to replace family care and the model children need for harmonious development and achieving their full potential.

Why is it necessary?

Children under the age of 5 are one of the most vulnerable groups. Lack of attachment to an adult, sensorial and emotional deprivation cause delays in development, which are very difficult to recover sometimes.School-age children in institutions have significantly lower progress at school compared to those of the same age, are subject to a higher risk of antisocial behavior and dropping out of school.Young people who leave residential institutions can hardly become independent, as they lack  essential skills for independent living, low self-esteem and identity problems enhance the risk of abuse, exploitation, trafficking or antisocial behavior and do not allow social re/integration. For children with special needs, every day is important in their recovery, which cannot be ensured by any institution, and these children will continuously go to the institutions throughout their entire lives.

Deinstitutionalization provides customized solutions, quality care and respect for each child. Therefore, CCF Moldova supports the deinstitutionalization process in the Republic of Moldova through:

Preventing children from entering institutions;
Reintegration of institutionalized children in their biological/extended families or in other alternative forms of family-type protection;
Development of alternative services for the protection of children’s rights.

Results:
Since 2008 and until now, CCF Moldova together with the authorities closed 10 residential institutions and helped to deinstitutionalize about 1,504 children from different regions of Moldova.
 

10 institutions closed:
2007 – 2009 – Boarding school for orphans and children left without parental care, Cupcui village, Leova district – 59 children
2010 – 2011 – Orphanage in Cernoleuca village, Donduseni district – 36 children
2010 – 2012 – Boarding school in Cupcini town, Edinet district – 47 children
2011 – 2012 – Auxiliary boarding school in Sarata-Noua village, Leova district – 114 children
2012 – 2014 – Auxiliary boarding school in Tarigrad village, Drochia district – 57 children
2014 – 2015 – Auxiliary boarding school in Grinauti-Moldova village, Ocnita district – 70 children
2015 – 2017 – Auxiliary boarding school in Costesti village, Rascani district – 83 children
2016 – 2017 – Orphanage (for children with hearing impairment), Balti municipality – 19 children
2016 – 2017 – Boarding school for orphans and children left without parental care, Balti municipality – 29 children
2017 – 2018 – Auxiliary boarding school in Balti municipality –14 children.