Despite the shift in emphasis from institutional to foster family care, in the South of Italy children in need are mainly looked after by residential services. These are required to provide family-style care and to place children on a short term basis. Using data from a research on a 100% sample of day units, residential services and children in care in the Calabria region, this article investigates the functioning of the system of care for vulnerable children at sub-national level, describes looked after children’s characteristics and life conditions and questions to what extent a real deinstitutionalization process has occurred in this area. Finally, some deinstitutionalization recommendations are given.
Children in need in the South of Italy. Features and distortions in the deinstitutionalization of care
LICURSI, Sabina;Marcello G;Pascuzzi E.
2013-01-01
Abstract
Despite the shift in emphasis from institutional to foster family care, in the South of Italy children in need are mainly looked after by residential services. These are required to provide family-style care and to place children on a short term basis. Using data from a research on a 100% sample of day units, residential services and children in care in the Calabria region, this article investigates the functioning of the system of care for vulnerable children at sub-national level, describes looked after children’s characteristics and life conditions and questions to what extent a real deinstitutionalization process has occurred in this area. Finally, some deinstitutionalization recommendations are given.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
