The Global Orphan Problem
Specifically, there are an estimated 6,000 children living in institutional housing in the Caribbean. The population of Grenada is approximately 110,000 with a child population of about 30,000. Research shows that in 2009-10 about 144 children spent time in group/institutional homes with only 30% of them being reintegrated with their homes and less than 1% being adopted. The remaining majority of children (69%; roughly 100) currently live in institutional care.
Adequate preventative measures are not in place to assist struggling families, and institutional facilities are frequently seen as a first-resort. Once children are separated from their families the process for reintegration into their homes or with other family members is also deficient. In many instances, children remain institutionalized for the duration of their childhood. As a result, those children develop chronic psychological trauma, become conditioned to their lack of attachment and are often unable to function in the outside world once they leave the institution. As such, REACH Grenada is committed to developing the necessary training and tools to alleviate the ill effects of an institutional system that will, as a necessity, continue to operate alongside the shift in resources towards reintegration.
Grenada has a number of institutional homes for abused and abandoned children (privately-run with minimal government support). RG currently works with three homes, representing roughly 65 children and 40 caregivers. RG also plans to work with Father Mallaghan’s Home for Boys in 2012.
