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Romania's last orphanages

The EconomistClaudia, Theodore, Marichika
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  • The Ion Holban institution is scheduled to close in 2019, with a broader plan to shut down Romania's 163 institutions within the next decade.
  • Hope and Homes for Children intends to collaborate with successive Romanian governments to close 31 specific orphanages.
  • Future programs aim to prevent child separation and facilitate reintegration into biological families, extended families, or foster care.
  • Many older children are expected to be relocated to smaller, state-run group homes rather than family placements.
  • The transition process carries risks, including potential abuse, exploitation, reduced potential, and overwhelming adjustments for children accustomed to institutional care.
  • Long-term independent living outcomes depend on the assurance of sustained well-being during the transition.
  • Adoption success rates vary by age, with a prediction that older children in particular may not be taken by adoptive parents, leading to their return to care.