A Developing World Rejoinder to Children’s Rights, Deinstitutionalisation and the Development of Foster Care

Abstract

Harlow (Practice: 1–13, 2021) argued for the development of foster care world-wide, potentially funded through the closure of residential institutions. This rejoinder highlights a selective literature review in these arguments, along with comparative research challenges. Social work career paths rarely traverse between family case work and residential or looked after care practices, thereby influencing professional perspectives. Assumptions about universal access to primary and secondary education in the Developing World are unfounded, as are assumptions about availability of community health and welfare services in local communities world-wide. Because residential care homes are largely operated in Developing World countries by local benefactors or rely on donations with little, if any, support from the state, it follows that closure of children’s homes will not release funds for the support of families and foster care. Cross-cultural, and religious differences require careful consideration to account for meanings, use and acceptability of Western notions of foster care operating in the Developing World as well as in multi-cultural UK cities.

Keywords:

• foster care
• residential child care
• child welfare
• social work with families
• social pedagogy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 196 countries have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child, all but the United States of America.

2 The USA, Canada and Australia were excluded from this review since much of the literature is generated from these places.

3 Readers are reminded that the United Nations designated age of 25 is used as the working definition of youth.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tuhinul Islam

Tuhinul Islam, MA, PhD in International Child Welfare, Child and Youth Care and International Development with 25 years of management, teaching, research, and practical experience in the fields of residential child and youth care, child welfare management, education and development in the UK, Africa, and Asia.

Leon Fulcher

Leon Fulcher, MSW, PhD has worked for more than forty years as a social worker in residential child and youth care work in different parts of the world. As a practice researcher, professor, scholar and author, Leon has given special consideration to working across cultures and geographies, how such engagement influences team working, supervision and caring for caregivers by promoting continuing education with adult carers.