|
Child care in residential institutions
The official child care system in Ukraine provides for upkeep and fostering of children
from birth to the age of maturity and is represented by residential institutions, which fall under various institutions. The network of institutions for orphans and children
deprived of parental care on 1/1/2003 covered 45 residential schools and 91
orphanages of Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine system; 47 child homes of Ministry of Health system;and 57 residential homes of Ministry of Labor system.
For the past years an increase in the number of inmates in residential institutions is
being noticed. Since 1995 the number of social and biological orphans in orphanages, child homes and boarding homes has increased 1.5 times and the number of those studying in boarding schools for orphans by 1.4 times.
The traditional public care system for orphans and children deprived of parental care
envisage at least two transfer of child from one institution to another. A child wish was not always taken into account. A more progressive form is the mixed type of orphanages where children between the ages of 3 and 18 are accommodated. They have established according to multi-age principle at children's place of residence and are intended for 20-25 persons who retain their ties with their families.
Care in public institutions gets complicate due to: shortage of finances;
overcrowding in boarding schools; predominantly female teachers and educators. The needs of inmates in residential institutions when it comes to clothes and shoes are fulfilled to 60-70%. The administration of child institutions is forced to meet the material needs of orphans and children deprived of parental care by sponsored means, which are not very easy to obtain. |