orphanages

An orphanage is a residential facility that provides housing and care for children who lack parental support due to death, abandonment, or the inability of their families to provide care. They may also serve children separated from their families during conflict or displacement. Orphanages are operated by governments, religious organizations, and non-governmental organizations, and by private entities, with varying licensing and standards.

Facilities typically offer shelter, meals, schooling, basic healthcare, and structured activities. Staffing includes caregivers and supervisors, with some employing social workers and teachers. The quality of care varies widely and is influenced by funding, governance, staff training, and child-protection practices. In many countries, regulatory frameworks and inspections aim to ensure safety, nutrition, education, and rights protections for residents.

Historically, large orphanages were common in many regions, but contemporary child welfare approaches emphasize family-based care. International guidance from the UN and UNICEF promotes moving away from long-term institutionalization toward foster care, kinship care, adoption, and support services that allow children to remain with or near their families. When institutional care is used, emphasis is placed on individualized plans, regular reviews, and safeguards to prevent abuse and neglect.

Outcomes for children in orphanages are mixed and strongly depend on the quality of care. Well-supported institutions may meet basic needs, but family-based arrangements are generally associated with better long-term development, education, and social integration, provided that resources and protections are in place. Policies in many countries seek to reduce orphanage placement and expand alternatives such as foster care, kinship care, and community-based services.