#Deinstitutionalization

Why Would An Institution Choose DI?

Posted on February 28, 2019September 30, 2019 by Florence

When you suggest deinstitutionalisation to the management of a residential childcare institution, you usually have an uphill battle. This is not surprising, because why would they want to put themselves out of existence?

Still, despite it starting out as an uphill battle, it is not a fight lost before it was started. There are actually a lot of good reasons for people running an ‘orphanage’ to choose DI, even if you disregard the ‘it is less harmful to the children’-one.

What Does Deinstitutionalisation Mean?

Posted on February 25, 2019September 30, 2019 by Florence

A very long word, often shortened to DI to save ourselves the trouble, that is thrown around more and more, in various different places. A word of some importance, and therefore important to understand. What exactly do people mean when they talk about deinstitutionalisation and what is involved in the process.

In this blog I will give a brief overview and in the following blogs I will pick out some elements that are mentioned today and look at them more closely, to allow a more thorough understanding to develop.

World Day of Social Justice

Posted on February 20, 2019September 30, 2019 by Florence

“Together we must set out to correct the defects of the past.” Nelson Mandela

Today, 20 February, is World Day of Social Justice. Something worth pausing to reflect on. The fight for social justice, for equal rights and respect, is one that has been fought for a long time now and that will continue for what looks like some time to come. The fight for social justice is fought on many different fronts, because there is still social injustice in many, many guises. As usual, in this blog, I will highlight the way this particularly relates to vulnerable children around the world.

Next Best: Imitation Families

Posted on February 14, 2019September 30, 2019 by Florence

It is very rare, only a very small percentage of children without parental care, but it does sometimes happen that it is not possible to find a place for a child with their extended family, nor in a foster family and the situation is not such that an adoptive family would be appropriate. Usually these children are older, often teenagers, and have complicated challenging behaviour that is difficult to deal with in a family. Or they are children with complex, severe multiple special needs.

What to do with these children? Should they go into an institution? I presume that by now you can predict that the answer here is ‘no’. In this blog we will look at what then.

Disability as Reason for Institutionalisation

Posted on January 17, 2019September 30, 2019 by Florence

As the momentum of the global movement towards deinstitutionalisation is growing, the proportion of children with disabilities in institutions is growing. In many countries, children are being moved from institutions to family-based alternatives, but in this process the children with disabilities are left behind. Often for many of the same reasons that had them end up in the institutions in the first place.

Increasing Momentum of Deinstitutionalisation

Posted on December 31, 2018December 8, 2019 by Florence

As the year draws to a close, it seems almost inevitable to look back and to look forward. Because my work and life are completely entangled with children in institutions and the quest to get them out of there, this features heavily in these ponderings, even on a personal level, for me.

I invite you along with me, as I look back and look ahead. I feel the past year has been a good one, for moving children towards family-based solutions.

Children with Disabilities

Posted on December 3, 2018September 30, 2019 by Florence

A five-year-old girl, who weighs 6kg and spend 20-22 hours a day in a baby crib that is a bit too small for her, at an adoption centre where she has lived for over 4 years now. All because she has cerebral palsy.

Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. A good time to take a moment to look at the situation of children with disabilities in institutions. Unfortunately, it is not a pretty one.

Don’t Take My Word for It

Posted on October 8, 2018October 6, 2018 by Florence

Recently, Lumos has held a major event in the US. Lumos is a London-based organisation that for the past 13 years has worked very hard and gained increasing momentum to achieve global deinstitutionalisation. And now they have released a video that was taken at that event.

In the summer of 2017, I had the privilege of attending Lumos’ ‘Introduction to Deinstitutionalisation’. For four days I was able to exchange experiences and have discussions with a variety of representatives of major international organisations involved in child protection and of several government bodies from across the world. As well as increasing my knowledge and understanding of various details of how to make sure deinstitutionalisation is done responsibly.

Introduction: Who?

Posted on September 10, 2018January 5, 2020 by Florence

Let’s start with a little introduction, a little more personal than the ‘About’ page. Who am I and how did I get here?

That’s a really good question and I will fight the impulse to become too philosophical or existentialist in answering it. So I’ll start with the first part. I am Florence Koenderink, a Dutch woman who has lived in Scotland for the past several years and who works all over the world, wherever I’m asked to go. The more formal details on that you can look up on the ‘About’ page.

Continue reading “Introduction: Who?”