The Conditions and Needs of China's Children's Welfare Institutes: A Testimony of Significant Progress

While Western reports have previously casted shadows over China’s children’s welfare institutes, this study conducts interviews as well as on-site visits for five geographically dispersed institutes and finds that they have undergone major change since the late 1990s. Influenced by new government policies and programs as well as social changes, China’s orphanages no longer fill with female inmates but with children of both genders abandoned for their disabilities. Despite challenges associated with heavy disability statistics, participating orphanages boast excellent facilities and provide excellent nutrition, treatment, education, and post-orphanage services. Ensuing challenges include the need for additional medical specialists and more dynamic adoption and foster care systems.