Children passing through public foster care: a way to social development?

Abstract

The objective of this study was analyzing the social aspects that interfered with the behavior and healthy development of the children residing in a public institution, besides observing the psychological, social and educational interferences such a refuge can produce. The study was conducted in two moments aimed at analyzing the performance of the institution and the conditions of the children before and after admission. First, the children were submitted to a physical examination and establishment of their nutritional profile. The children were allowed to draw something of their own choice in order to obtain clues about their psycho-emotional condition. There was a relax moment in the form of an educative puppet show to observe the children.s spontaneity. The institution sheltered more boys than girls. The mean age was 8-11 years and the time of permanence in the institution was less than one year. A great part of the children ignored their full name, their age, the names of their parents, the grade they attended at school and even the day of the week and the current month. This situation suggests disorientation, indifference and a lack of support of their families. The study showed clearly the crucial role of the family in the formation of the individual, among others influencing behavioral, psychological and nutritional aspects. Any rupture in the family structure can harm the child for the rest of the life