Integración familiar de jóvenes con discapacidad intelectual moderada, pertenecientes a un hogar de menores / Reinstating youngsters with moderate mental disability from a group home for minors back to their families

RESUMEN

El trabajo que se informa presenta una descripción y evaluación de un estudio de casos de reintegración familiar de tres jóvenes con discapacidad intelectual moderada pertenecientes a un hogar de menores, desarrollado durante tres años. La metodología utilizada estuvo centrada principalmente en el enfoque biográfico, con la técnica de relatos de vida. Además de presentar las características de sus familias, específicamente de sus madres, los resultados aportan antecedentes claves para poder potenciar el sistema de integración familiar actual que existe para la atención de niños, niñas y jóvenes con necesidades educativas especiales. De los tres casos, sólo uno concretó la reintegración familiar de la joven discapacitada, el segundo está en proceso de finalizar la integración y en el tercero, la madre desertó. Se observa que es compleja la integración en las familias de los menores que asisten a centros de protección. Como factores claves para el éxito de la intervención, se reconocen las redes de apoyo sociales y familiares, las estrategias individuales para revincularse con la hija y resignificar su discapacidad, el apoyo de la institución y el trabajo multidisciplinario. Finalmente se concluye a partir de estos casos, cuáles serían los aspectos esenciales que permiten realmente que los menores crezcan y vivan en familia como seres íntegros y plenos. Para ello se requiere contar con un plan de intervención y un seguimiento constante del proceso, en el que se trabaje no sólo con la madre o tutor principal del menor, sino que también se incorpore a toda la familia en el proceso.

ABSTRACT

The article presents a description and evaluation of a three year case study of three youngsters with moderate mental disability from a group home for minors. We used a biography approach, and a life story technique. Through this technique, the person articulates his or her past, present and future in an interview or an open interaction. Our goal was to understand and face the mothers' life experiences in order to create an intervention method based on their own reality and perspective. Apart from presenting the children's family characteristics, particularly that of their mothers, the results bring out key information that strengthen and promote the current system of family integration for children and youngsters with special educational needs. Out of the three cases, only one family achieved the reinstatement of their child with a disability; the second family is in the process of finishing the reinstatement, and in a third case, the mother abandoned the process. Based on these experiences, reinstating a child who was looked after by a child care and protection center back to his or her family, is a complex issue. The family plays a fundamental role in the process of bringing their child back into their homes, and is a key factor for a successful intervention. Families who have a support network, both at an individual and social level, have better possibilities of reinstating their child back into the family. Another important point to consider is individual strategies mothers use to renew the bond with their child, which are influenced by the stages they are going through regarding the adaptation process and acceptance of the disability. Other aspects that influence whether families abandon the reinstatement process or not are the type of disability, the cause of transfer to the care and protection center, the stage that each mother is going through regarding their child's disability linked to their vital cycle, the mothers' age and their constant denial in coping with disability and their maternal roles. The family reinstatement program is recognized as a good system which allows children with disabilities to achieve better growth and development with their families, while acknowledging at the same time, that adoption is practically nonexistent. This system requires constant interventions and follow-ups, not only with the tutor, but also including the whole family in the process. Moreover, multi-disciplinary work at home, in community institutions and in other social levels that bring support to the family's readjustment of their internal bonds and structure, should be considered key interventions. Strengthening parental figures helps parents change their perspective regarding their child's disability, and is crucial in accomplishing true social integration, as well as allowing children to grow and live in a family as wholesome and complete beings.