| Abstract: | Unaccompanied children placed under institutional care are likely to encounter a complex web
of problems from pre to post phases of reunification. Recent research and practice demonstrate
the negative effect of prolonged stay under institution care on social behavior and interaction
of children’s with others. However, no research was conducted to analyze child family
reunification projects in Ethiopia context. Accordingly, seven children who are reunified from
the KCYRC, coordinator of the child care institution, two social workers, and one counselor
from the organization were interviewed to provide deep descriptions of organizational structure
and function in relation to reunification projects. The data collected via interview, observation
and relevant document review was subjected to an interpretative analysis and the findings are
generated and systematically interpreted as successive piece of data. Generally, this study
found that the reunified children had experienced great difficulties in their reunion with their
families, peers and with the society. Most of the reunified children who could not cope with the
difficulties might probably return to the institution or the streets. These difficulties had emerged
mainly from the prolonged institutional care, long-time separation from their families, and
urban way of life. The researcher recommended that the organization should formulate holistic
plans, procedures and evaluation strategies to carry out reunification program that can help
to trace back situations of reunified children in order to utilize resources wisely &
appropriately. |
