Family-based care is considered to be the best option for children, supported by national and international policies, while residential care has been shown to have a range of negative
effects on children. As a result, both policy and practice have begun to promote reintegration of children from institutions into their families of origin.
Although the impact of residential care has largely been analized, there is limited research into the impact of reintegration on children. The present study begins to address this gap by investigating the impact of reintegration of children from five transitional shelters into their families in Cambodia. The reintegration is assessed through seven criteria: nutrition, education, employment, shelter, stability, safety and children’s connections to their families and communities.
Key factors that contribute to positive, stable outcomes for reintegrated children, such as consistent, regular follow-up, income generation and provision of funds for school, are explorated as well.