Preventative Measures for Social Orphanhood: Institutional and Discursive Aspects

Abstract

The issue of social orphanhood remains a very serious social problem in the Russian Federation. Even today, as much as 2.5% of the whole child population in the country remain without parents or guardians. The figures for orphanhood have remained stable despite economic growth and increased efforts on preventative measures from the state institutions involved in this question. This is largely because of too much focus on the symptoms of the problem rather than the causes; that is to say attempting to reduce the consequences of orphanhood on society rather than preventing its emergence and continuation. This article provides an analysis of the causes of social orphanhood and the preventative measures currently in use to combat it. This done largely through interviews with those specialists involved in this struggle. Economic pressure, social exclusion and psychological factors are all revealed to be key causes of orphanhood. Institutions are then examined both in terms of their organisational culture and methodology, and in their ‘technical’ approach to solving this problem. The first aspect reveals the current resources at the disposal of these organisations and how responsibilities are shared between them. Institutional forces are found to be wanting in terms of the coordination of any joint approach between them and are too easily confined within institutional straightjackets. The ‘technical’ aspect allows us to analyse the methods used to identify risk families and how work is done with them. There is also a ‘discursive’ aspect; an increasing willingness to discuss what new directions are needed to make better progress. This includes more emphasis being put on rehabilitation of those parents and children who suffer these fates. The work of institutions needs to be reinforced by concrete state support for housing and work. It is also necessary to look beyond limiting the consequences and work with future parents for prevention.