Experiences of violence, abuse, and safety in child and youth care institutions - how safe is safe? : international learnings on experiences of safety, abuse and neglect in care institutions

Objectives: Issues of safety, abuse and violence experienced in child and youth care institutions have increasingly become a focal point of public and scientific scrutiny in many nations. The scope of their investigations varies – from single perpetrators in specific care homes, to acknowledgements of systemic experiences of violence in all forms of out-of-home care, often spanning months to decades. While national legislation, historical context, and professional practices differ, and each case needs to be treated in its own right, most reports share lessons to be learned, offering an important subject for international comparison and shared learning. This paper presentation is based on a scoping international literature review that in light of the above answers to three overarching questions, that are grounded in findings on the history of child care in Switzerland (e.g. Gabriel, Keller & Bombach, 2021): (1) … which lessons were reported from investigations of past experiences of abuse, violence, and safety on various levels of the respective welfare system? (2) … to what extent and in what ways was justice and reconciliation sought for victims, survivors, their families, and communities after abuse and violence were experienced in care institutions? (3) … which measures were taken to prevent future abuse and violence, and ensure safety and protection in care? Methods: To answer these questions, a scoping literature search is conducted, synthesizing international findings relevant to the issues of abuse and violence in care and perceptions of safety. Provided is an overview of factors associated with (i) responses on different levels of the welfare system, (ii) acts of seeking justice and reconciliation, and (iii) types of preventive measures that were taken. The review is conducted following scientific standards (e.g. SANRA & PRISMA) utilizing multi-disciplinary scientific databases (e.g., ERIC, Ovid, PsycINFO, Scopus & Web of Science). Initial results: Results are preliminary, as analyses are conducted at the date of writing; these initial findings provide an outlook of results to be presented: Time periods and cultural customs were found to have varying influences, as illustrated by moral taboos on sexuality, or definitions of the (a)typical development. Several studies distinguish different types of out-of-home care, reporting significantly higher risks of abuse in residential homes and for populations with intersecting vulnerabilities and stigmata. Perpetrators are from various backgrounds, including peers and pedagogical staff, with substantial proportions not conspicuous before, reducing possibilities of reliable identifications and emphasizing awareness of abuse of power. Furthermore, only a fraction of cases are known by authorities, as the findings of a national committee in the Netherlands illustrate: only two percent of the cases found were known to the professionals, while a second national research committee concluded that over 75% of children in care experiences forms of violence. This raises questions beyond individual responsibilities, shifting the focus on care cultures and institutional practices. Selected Ref: Gabriel, T., Keller, S. & Bombach, C. (2021). Vulnerability and Well-Being Decades After Leaving Care. Front. Psychol. 12:577450. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.57745