Avaliação dos serviços de acolhimento institucional de crianças e adolescentes no Recife / Evaluation of institutional foster care services for children and adolescents in Recife

Resumo O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a estrutura e o processo dos acolhimentos institucionais para proteção de crianças e adolescentes vítimas de abandono e/ou violência no Recife. Foi aplicado um questionário estruturado aos responsáveis pelos serviços, e então calculadas as frequências das variáveis e estabelecida a seguinte classificação do grau de implantação: crítico, quando a adequação à norma preconizada for inferior a 40%; inadequado, de 40-59%; aceitável, de 60%- 89%; adequado e ótimo, de 90-100%. Para análise qualitativa foram realizadas entrevistas com um gestor do poder judiciário e três do executivo. Das cinco instituições filantrópicas, duas apresentaram estrutura padrão ótimo, duas, aceitáveis, e uma, inadequada. Dentre as instituições públicas, uma municipal foi considerada inadequada e as demais, aceitáveis. Com relação ao processo, uma instituição apresentou padrão ótimo e as outras, aceitáveis. A análise de conteúdo permitiu observar que os maiores entraves para a realização das medidas previstas pelo Estatuto da Criança e de Adolescente decorrem do uso de drogas, distanciamento geográfico da família, falta de integração com outras instituições e rotatividade dos profissionais.

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the structure and process of institutional foster care services for the protection of children and adolescents who are victims of neglect and/or violence in Recife. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied to those responsible for the services. Variables frequency were calculated and the following implementation level classification system adopted: critical, when compliance was less than 40% of the recommended standards; inadequate, 40-59%; acceptable, 60%-89%; adequate and excellent, 90-100%. The qualitative analysis consisted in interviews with one manager from the Judiciary and three managers from the Executive. Of the five philanthropic institutions investigated, two had an excellent standard structure; two were acceptable and one inadequate. Among public institutions, one was considered inadequate and the others acceptable. Regarding the process, one institution was found to be excellent and the others acceptable. The content analysis identified that the greatest challenges to introduction of the measures envisaged in the Child and Adolescent Statute are drug use, family geographical remoteness, lack of integration with other institutions and staff turnover.

Nutritional status of children under five in three state foster care institutions in Sri Lanka.

This study evaluated the prevalence of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) in children under five years (n = 52), in three randomly selected, State operated foster care institutions in Sri Lanka. The prevalence of PEM, was (51.9%), underweight (63.5%) and wasting (25.0%) was found to be considerably higher than the national prevalence (13.5%, 29.4%, 14.0%, respectively). Based on this preliminary evidence, it is recommended that a study representative of all institutionalised children in both State and private facilities be conducted to identify deficiencies and recommend improvements to institutional care in Sri Lanka.

existing situation and challenges facing acceptance and care of children in substitute families

In different cultures across the world, families without or wishing to have more children proceed to adopt or foster them from other families or from children who have no known families. Adoption and foster care have been considered as effective means of confronting negative effects of infertility. Adoption and foster care have positive roles in giving the children the right guidance and help the progress of de-institutionalization and making the proper growth condition for children in family. Major kinds of child training in most countries and in Iran are adoption and foster care. After revolution, responsibilities related to adoption have been given to social welfare organization and by prohibition of adoption by foreign nationals, Iranian families had a better chance for child adoption. Answering to the needs of applicant families and children during different stages of decision-making, adoption and child train, need scientific programming, development of legal and executive structures. More familiarity with characteristics and existing challenges of child adoption, prepare programming for change and improvement of the present situation. Reviewing the present situation and using the local and international experience of government monitor and control, improving standards of services, close correlation between infertility treatment centers and child adoption centers and developing consultation services to families before and after adoption are some steps which seem necessary. Specialization in consultation delivery and caring about basic belief are other necessary aspects in proper programming

A laboratory cage for foster nursing newborn mice

We describe a cage to be used for foster nursing in order to guarantee that original mother's colostrum is not ingested by the newborn mice. A common (30.5 cm x 19.5 cm x 12.0 cm) mouse cage was fitted with a wire net tray with a mesh (1 cm x 1 cm), which divides the cage into an upper and a lower compartment. Mice born to females placed in the upper compartment pass through the mesh and fall into the lower compartment, where another lactating female with one or two of its own pups are. Of a total of 28 newborn mice of C3H/He and Swiss strains, 23 were successfully fostered. Important observations are presented to show that this is a valuable alternative for foster studies without great suffering on the part of the female