Children in Institutional and Alternative Care in Viet Nam: A Review of Current Policy and Practice

Children in need of special protection, including those who have suffered abuse or neglect, those who are orphaned or abandoned, those living with HIV/AIDS, those in conflict with the law, and those with mental or physical disabilities represent a particularly vulnerable group. Often, as wards of the state, their future depends on the care and support they receive from governments and benevolent others. Historically, governments around the world have responded to the needs of these children by placing them in institutional care, based on the notion that institutionalization would protect them from harm (Browne, 2009). However, studies dating back more than 50 years (Bowlby, 1951; Goldfarb, 1944) have shown the negative impact of prolonged placement in institutional settings. In particular, the lack of a consistent primary caregiver and denial of a family-based upbringing, typical in institutional settings, is linked to problems associated with the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral development and social functioning of institutionalized children (Browne, 2009; Johnson, Browne, & Hamilton-Giachritsis, 2006; Smyke, Dumitrescu, & Zeanah, 2002). The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) echoes these concerns regarding the damaging effects of institutionalization, emphasizing the importance of family-based care for children (Article 9).