COVID-19 Reminds Us Why We Must Invest More on Family-Based Alternatives for Children

Abstract

The emergence of COVID-19, followed by the subsequent lockdowns, is the reason why childcare practitioners, across the globe, are predicting an increase in the number of children requiring assistance for their care and protection. To fulfil those needs, increasing institutionalization of children is also expected. However, in the given circumstances, it is essential to bring in the findings of previous researches, establishing the fact that growing up in institutions causes long-term damages to the social, psychological and developmental wellbeing of children. This paper attempts to contextualize these aspects by underscoring the need for family-based alternatives and describing the existing situation of South Asia.

Foster parenting during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A qualitative analysis. Case of Poland

“…Two perspectives provided the background for our deliberations: the strong paradigm of the family as the fundamental social structure in Poland, based on an approach that integrates and normalizes family relations; and the process of deinstitutionalization (i.e., the promotion of foster parenthood and the elimination of institutional care). The negative effects of the pandemic in institutional forms of foster care—the closure of children's homes and the exclusion of children from education and health care (Keshri, 2021; Wilke et al, 2020)—provided solid support for the acceleration of deinstitutionalization and the development of family forms of foster care. These solutions, however, were not without disadvantages during a health crisis.…”

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s mental health and wellbeing, and beyond: A scoping review

“…Socio-economic background has been identified as a major contributing factor to the way children have been impacted by the pandemic. The impact of the economic crisis brought about by the pandemic had a significant impact on the social and emotional wellbeing of many children worldwide (Courtney et al, 2020;Garcia de Avila et al, 2020;Kang et al, 2020;Keshri, 2020;Parsons, 2020). The impact of the pandemic on children living in inadequate housing in low-income neighbourhoods and those experiencing domestic violence has been profound (Garcia de Avila et al, 2020;OECD, 2020a;Parsons, 2020).…”