Deinstitutionalisation: Three children with disabilities reintegrated into foster families for first time in Jordan

AMMAN — The Ministry of Social Development said that it has recently reintegrated three children with disabilities into foster families for the first time in Jordan.

The effort comes as part of the 10-year National Strategy for the Deinstitutionalisation of Persons with Disabilities, launched in 2019, according to the ministry’s spokesperson, Ashraf Khreis.

The policy aims to replace institutional disability care systems with inclusive, family and community based care, “following International standards”, Khreis told The Jordan Times. 

The strategy was launched in response to the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities No. (20) for 2017, he added. 

Article 27 of the law forbids excluding or restricting “persons with disabilities access to social development and rehabilitation programmes, services and institutions as well as nurseries”.

It also obligates the Ministry of Social Development and the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD) to prepare a national compliance strategy that includes alternative solutions for private and state-owned residential institutions, which are to be transformed into inclusive daycare centres. 

Moreover, the law prohibits granting new licences authorising the establishment of residential care institutions for persons with disabilities. 

Khreis noted that the strategy includes the reintegration of institutionalised persons back into their biological families, or into foster families or group homes managed by qualified staff, who can provide any necessary medical or personalised assistance services. 

“The ministry is periodically following up on the status of the first three successful cases of reintegrating disabled children into foster families,” he said.  

The implementation of the strategy, which is to be completed by 2027, was delayed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, “preparations are currently underway to reintegrate another 140 children by the end of this year,” he added. 

The appropriate care setting is determined based on a comprehensive evaluation of the children’s status, according to Khreis, who said that there are currently 13 waitlisted foster families and 90 biological families. 

He also pointed out that this year’s budget for the reintegration programme, which targets both Jordanian and non-Jordanian beneficiaries, amounts to JD1.257 million. 

According to the 10-year strategy, published by the HCD, there are currently 34 residential institutions, 27 of which are run privately and care for 1,471 children and adults with disabilities, including 883 non-Jordanians.

The strategy stated that deinstitutionalisation promotes “independent living” for disabled persons and enables them to be active members of their communities. 

It stressed that “institutionalisation is a clear violation” of the human right to “live independently, be included in the community, and practice individual autonomy and freedom of choice”.