The Need for Casa Mea
Romania has 9,000 abandoned children each year. This number has not changed in the last 35 years. Romania also has one of the highest rates of abandoned children between the ages of birth to 3 years of age and this rate has been increasing ever since the overthrow of the communist regime in December of 1989.
Romanian Orphanages
Romania's solution for these unwanted children was to confine them to large state run orphanages. As can be expected, it developed one of the highest rates of institutionalized children in Eastern Europe. In 2004, there were 43,000 children in the state run orphanages and in Brasov County alone there were 1,650.
As late as 1970, Romania continued to promote the institutionalization of these unwanted children. Romanians did not view the orphanage negatively. Parents saw the orphanage as an opportunity to personally benefit from additional resources from the state. The state guaranteed their children's need for food, clothing, and shelter which these impoverished parents could not provide.
The majority of the state run orphanages currently functioning in Romania were opened in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. These orphanages were designed to shelter large numbers of children. At the beginning of 2004, there were still 86 orphanages which provided residential care to more than a 100 children each. This accounted for 40% of all children in residential care.
As late as 1970, Romania continued to promote the institutionalization of these unwanted children. Romanians did not view the orphanage negatively. Parents saw the orphanage as an opportunity to personally benefit from additional resources from the state. The state guaranteed their children's need for food, clothing, and shelter which these impoverished parents could not provide.
The majority of the state run orphanages currently functioning in Romania were opened in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. These orphanages were designed to shelter large numbers of children. At the beginning of 2004, there were still 86 orphanages which provided residential care to more than a 100 children each. This accounted for 40% of all children in residential care.
Infants in the Orphanage
In the orphanages, behavior becomes institutionalized and has devastating effects over time. Most of the unwanted, abandoned children suffer from chronic medical conditions or disabilities which they developed during their stay in the orphanage due to lack of proper attention, stimulation, and exposure to sunshine and adequate food. These state run orphanages irreversibly affect a child's normal development.
How did Romania come to have so many unwanted children? The roots of child abandonment can be traced back to the former communist regime and to the country's deep poverty.
In November of 1966, the repressive communist regime instituted a pro-birth policy due to a significant decrease in the birth rate. All forms of birth control were illegal. Families were given financial incentives to produce more children. An immediate result was a deterioration in maternal and infant health, an increase in maternal and infant deaths, and an increase in the number of children with congenital anomalies. But the pro-birth policy had its desired outcome. Birth rates doubled. Hence the numbers of unwanted children increased.
How did Romania come to have so many unwanted children? The roots of child abandonment can be traced back to the former communist regime and to the country's deep poverty.
In November of 1966, the repressive communist regime instituted a pro-birth policy due to a significant decrease in the birth rate. All forms of birth control were illegal. Families were given financial incentives to produce more children. An immediate result was a deterioration in maternal and infant health, an increase in maternal and infant deaths, and an increase in the number of children with congenital anomalies. But the pro-birth policy had its desired outcome. Birth rates doubled. Hence the numbers of unwanted children increased.
Abandoned Infants in Maternity Hospitals
The people of Romania said if the state wanted the children, the state could raise them. This attitude became deeply entrenched in the public consciousness and led to a culture of child abandonment. In fact, child abandonment is not considered illegal.
The current situation in Romania is improving, but ever so slowly. Romania is beginning to realize that lack of a home has a lasting effect on the psyche of a child and that there is a relationship between maternal deprivation and developmental delays. They have witnessed first hand the children leaving the orphanages at age 18 with no ability to care for themselves, with no marketable job skills, with no money, and with no hope.
Since 2005, Romania is attempting to prevent the abandonment of children whereas previously no prevention measures or funding for prevention existed. Romania is also attempting to close its large state run orphanages and replace them with foster care and smaller family type homes, both of which are new phenomenon in Romania.
The time is ripe for Casa Mea in Romania. Since joining the European Union in 2007, the European Union is requesting that Romania develop a system to resolve its large numbers of abandoned children. Casa Mea has provided a loving group home to some of Romania's abandoned and unwanted children since 2004 and plans to continue in its efforts to create a home for even more of these children.
The current situation in Romania is improving, but ever so slowly. Romania is beginning to realize that lack of a home has a lasting effect on the psyche of a child and that there is a relationship between maternal deprivation and developmental delays. They have witnessed first hand the children leaving the orphanages at age 18 with no ability to care for themselves, with no marketable job skills, with no money, and with no hope.
Since 2005, Romania is attempting to prevent the abandonment of children whereas previously no prevention measures or funding for prevention existed. Romania is also attempting to close its large state run orphanages and replace them with foster care and smaller family type homes, both of which are new phenomenon in Romania.
The time is ripe for Casa Mea in Romania. Since joining the European Union in 2007, the European Union is requesting that Romania develop a system to resolve its large numbers of abandoned children. Casa Mea has provided a loving group home to some of Romania's abandoned and unwanted children since 2004 and plans to continue in its efforts to create a home for even more of these children.
Sources:
- Situation of Child Abandonment in Romania 2005 (UNICEF Romania supported this project and publication).
- Child Care System Reform in Romania 2004 (This study was complied at the request of the Romanian government with technical and financial assistance from UNICEF Romania and performed by the Institute for Marketing and Polls)
- CIA - The World Fact Book, Romania, January 10, 2006.
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