Daniel Ortega Ortigoza, November 2020

in the Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care

Introduction

How has the lockdown affected residential centres for children and youths in Catalonia? Several months after the COVID-19 global pandemic began, and after measures were adopted by the governments of the affected countries, we can start to highlight many of the consequences that this pandemic has generated in certain populations. These ramifications have not only been felt by the public health care system but also within the economy, the labour-market, social relationships and even the emotional wellbeing of many. Some children and youths may have also suffered from the effects of the lockdown, especially in the physiological, psychosocial, academic, and emotional areas. In the case of children and youths in residential care, these consequences may have been elevated due to the various emotional and psychological problems that they often experience due to their pre-care and care experiences. The global pandemic has also highlighted the existence of social inequalities. Moreover, those inequalities are further increased in the cases of foster children and youths due to the uncertainty of the general lockdown and the social policies and regulations determined by the administrations in charge of ensuring the rights of these children and youths.

Read in full at Source: COVID-19: Consequences for the child welfare system in Catalonia – Consequences_for_the_child_welfare_system_in_Catalonia.pdf