Challenges and Prospects of Children’s Homes: Opportunities for Transition from Dormitory to Family Unit Setup

Abstract

This study makes a cursory exploration of the challenges and prospects of transitioning childcare institutions from dormitory to family unit systems to promote child development. Desk research was utilised as the primary research approach in this paper, which is part of a wider qualitative research on childcare systems in Zimbabwe. This was complemented by a systematic literature review. Literature has indicated that variances in culture and contexts have persistently showcased the positive effects associated with family care on child development. There are dangers to children, associated with living outside family care. Accordingly, the present study proposes interventions that empower families to raise and care for children. In Zimbabwe, institutional dormitory care has emerged as the most dominant form of childcare. The responsibility of child placement rests with the Department of Social Services which unfortunately is known to have a history of being under-resourced to conduct all the necessary work required. Resultantly, this continually forces the
department to ‘relapse’ and seek the services of non-state institutions as the only available remedy to their shortcomings. Institutions, which in most cases are organised in the form of dormitories face a fair share of challenges that affect child development hence the need to transition to family-based units. Children who suffer mostly from social problems associated with institutionalization have shown great improvements when placed in family care spheres.