In 2019 there were an estimated 600,000 children living in residential care facilities (RCFs) in Myanmar. This new report gives new, profound insight into the operations of the privately run, Christian faith-based RCFs where these children reside. The study sought to better understand the operational mechanisms of these RCFs, including the characteristics of the directors and donors, the means and reasons for referral and admission of children into care, and how the interplay of these dynamics affect RCF stakeholders’ willingness to engage in transition, the reintegration of children, and transition outcomes.
The study employed a mixed methods approach and gathered data from 46 residential care facilities and 22 individual donors or donor groups, all of whom were involved in Kinnected Myanmar’s transition and reintegration program. The outcomes of this analysis provide important insights to inform ongoing awareness raising, advocacy efforts, approaches to providing technical support and deinstitutionalization, and care reform strategies in Myanmar.
Summary of findings:
Residential care service transitions are largely donor influenced
Active recruitment drives admission of children into residential care
Cultural factors and customary laws influence children’s admission into residential care
Poverty is the most common reason for children to enter into care
Find the full copy of the report here.