Russians’ attitude to those brought up in residential care
VTsIOM discovers Russians’ attitudes to those brought up in residential institutions
44 percent of those surveyed said that they personally know someone who had been brought up in a residential institution
14.07.2022
On 14 July VTsIOM published the findings of a pro bono survey of attitudes to children from residential institutions. The survey was conducted jointly with the Children’s’ Homes Foundation. 1601 people over 18 were surveyed.
The survey found that almost half (44 percent) of the respondents know someone who had been brought up in residential care. The most likely group to report this are young people (18-34) and those living in towns with a population less than 100 000.
The majority of those surveyed are aware that children may be in residential care whilst their parents are still alive. Reasons cited for why children may be placed in care whilst their parents are still alive include: dangers presented by the family itself (30 percent), financial difficulties (16 percent), parents losing their custody rights, problems with alcohol or drug use or neglect of children’s needs (12 percent).
10 percent of those surveyed believe that children may be placed in residential care for bad behaviour. This view is deemed to be a negative stereotype.
Are Russians prepared to help?
More than half of Russians (53 percent) think that CSOs make a significant contribution in helping children from children’s homes and residential care. This view was expressed most frequently by those aged 25-34.
“Only 6 percent thought that the non-commercial sector did not play a useful role in helping children in residential care. This figure shows that Russians understand the important role social and non- commercial organisations play in helping children in residential care”, reports VtSIOM.
The majority (74 percent) of respondents believe that those children in residential care who have parents should be treated in the same way as orphaned children. However, almost the same number (77 percent) had not offered help to children in residential care in the past two years.
Only 1 in 5 (22 percent) said that they had provided some sort of assistance. 11 percent of these had made a financial contribution, 9 percent had donated toys and only 1 percent had volunteered in a residential institution or offered professional help to a relevant CSO.
However, 67 percent of Russians said that they would be prepared to help children in residential care. This willingness was expressed most by those who know someone from residential care.
The respondents thought the easiest way to help would be with clothes and toys (35 and 31 percent). 21 percent are prepared to help financially.
All the findings can be found on the VTsIOM site.
