Children in public care

In 2002, there were more than 1,120,000 children in public care (e.g., guardianship, foster care and residential facilities) compared to 850,000 children in 1990. Of the 1.1 million girls and boys in public care, 600,000 were living in residential institutions (data do not include Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and Turkey).

Despite reforms in most countries, the child protection systems have been unable to keep pace with rising child vulnerability, higher levels of family dysfunction and poverty. More children are entering public care now than a decade ago.

Social monitors (PDF):

TransMONEE database (link to the Innocenti Research Center web site)

The rate of children in residential care is growing (Graph)

Russia, the most populous country in the region, also has the greatest number of children-more than 750,000-in public care.

Historically, CARK countries (Central Asia and the Republic of Kazakhstan) have had smaller numbers of children in public care. However, within the last five years, increases have been recorded in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

In the Caucasus subregion (Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan) the number of children in public care actually decreased in the mid-1990s but started to grow again in the late 1990s and by 2002 returned to pre-transition levels. Armenia, which had a very low number of children in public care, also reports a substantial increase in numbers.

Across the region, the rate of children placed in institutions is rising, particularly among infants. Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine have the highest rates of infants (aged 0-3) in residential care. This is the age when prolonged institutionalization is the most detrimental to child development. International adoption also plays a growing role in the public care strategy.

Resources

The situation | Children in public care | Profile of children and risks| Reforming the system| Intercountry adoption