Residential care for abandoned children and their integration into a family-based setting in Uganda: lessons for...

Area of Science:

• Child Welfare
• International Development
• Social Work

Background:

• Abandoned and neglected infants require urgent physical, social, and medical support.
• Existing models of care, including long-term institutionalization and intercountry adoption, are questioned.
• The Uganda National Alternative Care Framework provides a basis for alternative care solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a model of care for abandoned and neglected infants in Uganda.
• To challenge the necessity of long-term institutional care and intercountry adoption.
• To provide guidance for government and non-governmental actors on implementing alternative care frameworks.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a care model by the Child's i Foundation in Uganda.
• Focus on reintegration within the birth family or local foster care/adoption.
• Emphasis on protective, promotional, and transformational interventions.
• Utilization of a community-oriented approach.

Main Results:

• A holistic model for child neglect and abandonment is showcased.
• The model prioritizes family-based and community-based care solutions.
• Policy and programming lessons are highlighted.

Conclusions:

• The described model offers an effective alternative to institutional care for abandoned infants.
• Implementing the Uganda National Alternative Care Framework is crucial for addressing child neglect.
• A community-oriented, holistic approach is essential for child welfare interventions.