Theology in the Raw S9 Ep957: Are Orphanages Doing More Harm Than Good? Alycia Pinizzotto
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Mar 24, 2022 Alycia Pinizzotto, CEO of Story International, shares her transformative journey from orphanage management to advocating for family-based care in Guatemala. She argues that orphanages can perpetuate harm, often housing children with living parents who face poverty. The conversation emphasizes the importance of keeping families together, exploring the trauma of childhood separation and the need for community support. Alycia highlights the mission to empower local families and suggests alternatives to institutional care, advocating for a more compassionate approach to orphan care.
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Tragic Orphanage Fire Sparks Change
- Alycia shares a tragic story of 41 girls dying in a fire at a state-run orphanage in Guatemala.
- This event shifted her perspective to focus on family reunification and preventing such tragedies.
Developmental Harm of Orphanages
- Kids in orphanages often regress developmentally during their stay due to lack of family attachment.
- Institutional care greatly increases risks of homelessness, crime, sex work, and suicide later in life.
Institutional Model Fosters Abuse
- Abuse in orphanages is driven by the institutional model, not just human brokenness.
- Staffing ratios and combining traumatized children cause systemic failure and unsafe conditions.