Coping strategies adopted by reunified children from institutional care in Bardege-Layibi Division, Gulu City

Abstract

The integration of children to their families has highlighted the inefficiencies of the institutional care system. The study aimed at, examining the coping strategies of reunified children from institutional care, exploring the needs of the reunified children from institutional care, finding out the income generating activities carried out by these reunified children and examining the nature post institutional support networks available for these children. This study was conducted through case study research design and under taken using qualitative research approach. It involved conducting in-depth interviews with a total of twelve reunified children, eight parents and guardians of reunified children as primary respondents. I conducted a Focus Group Discussion social workers from selected child care institutions. The data obtained was analyzed through thematic analysis. From this study, it was discovered that the reunified children from institutional care have a number of unmet needs which include housing, education, access to health services, love and affection. These have made adapting to the community way of life very challenging and greatly hindered successful reunification. Findings also showed that some of the children have engaged in a number of economic activities to make ends meet after reunification. It was further highlighted that the post institutional support networks are extremely weak and insufficient towards meeting the needs and providing conducive atmosphere for successful reunification into community and family by reunified children from institutional care. This has resulted into increasing challenges as a result of having their needs unfulfilled, hence relapse into institutional care. It can therefore be noted that reuniting children from institutions alone is not sufficient enough but there should be consideration for improving their standards of living as well as guiding them during the transition from life of dependency to independent and harsh life outside the institutions.