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Name of the Institution:
Child welfare institutions still appear to be semi-jails. Some of these institutions are still known as orphanages and the inmates are known as orphans. In order to provide a sense of pride and inculcate self-reliance among the destitute children. In the local language, these institutions may be called as children's homes, boarding houses, Bal Bhavans, etc. This change will also help in changing the attitude of social workers towards the problems of orphan and destitute children. While starting new institutions, one may take into consideration some of the points mentioned below.
Location and the building:
The institution should be in or near a residential community so that children can have the benefits of participation in normal community life. The pattern of community growth should be studied so that location in crowded and undesirable neighbourhood or in industrial or commercial areas is avoided.
A desirable location is in or near a city or town which can provide water, sewage disposal, fire protection, and where necessary supplies are available and schools, clinics, hospitals, and recreational facilities are easily accessible. Good transportation facilities should also be available.
There may be10-20 children in each cottage with separate kitchen and dining hall attached. In India efforts have been made to set up Boys' Towns and Children's Villages by certain progressive agencies. Some of them are Kerala Balagram at Manganam, Kottyam, Sahyogat New Delhi, Boys' Town at Madras. The system large dormitories is neither manageable nor desirable
Each child should be provided with accommodation at the rate of 10-20 meters with at least 100 cu. meters of space per child. The beds should be three feet apart. The allotment of cottages and rooms should be on the basis of age and sex. There should be a latrine and a bath room for a group of 10 children. The building should have electricity (wherever available), water, air ventilation, fire protection, sanitary amenities according to local regulations.
Strength:
The ideal number of children in an institution is 50, but the number could extend up to 100 but it should not be less than 20 under special circumstances. The idea is that trained staff should be able to pay individual attention to each child. The institution should try to cater to a homogeneous category of children and should provide the necessary staff for that type of activity. Children with different problems should not be mixed.
In take policy:
In-take policy should be decided by the governing board of the institution. Selective in-take will bring agency's resources and child's special needs together, avoid waste and ensure maximum use of the skills and abilities of the staff.
In cases where one institution admits children with different problems or background, it may be necessary to classify them according to various problems, age-group, sex etc. to facilitate organization of different programmes and services. Children in an institution should be grouped according to the following classifications: 0-1 year, 1-3 years, 3-6 years, 6-11 years, 11-14 years, 14-18 years.
A group should not comprise of more than I0 children. Wherever the number in any age-group exceeds by five or more, separate group may be constituted. According to the sub-committee of Indian Council of Social Work, the absolute minimum steps for intake procedure should be
- the management's pre-view of the incoming child's problem and difficulties
- warm and satisfying reception by a person specially trained in in-take work
- taking care of his immediate physical wants on arrival
- medical check-up within 48 hours
- classification (for assignment purposes) within a reasonable period, not later than one month-the child should not be kept at a loose end indefinitely
- emotional acceptance of the child by the entire personnel
- facility for the periodical review of his growth
Food and Nutrition:
The institution should prepare weekly menus of balanced diet. This could be done in consultation with nutrition experts. In order that a child may be healthy, well-nourished and vigorous, he must eat the food that growing children need.
Cost:
There are different standards of providing food to the children of institutions. In some cases due to lack of financial resources, cost per child is considered to be very much inadequate and is actually sub-standard. The sub-committee appointed by Indian Conference of Social Work, in 1954 had suggested the cost range of diet of children in rural areas and urban areas.
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