Orphanages: A House or Home?

I decided to do my research paper on orphanages. I admit that I don’t really know too much about the topic. However, that is why I decided to go ahead and pick the article I did. The article, “A Russian Orphanage Offers Love and Care, but Few Ways Out” made me want to know the real reason why orphan numbers are increasing. I mean is family life really starting to be that bad? I want to know what life is like in an orphanage and the affect it has on the occupants. Also, I’m wondering if they do improve a child’s life.


One of my co-workers actually lived in a Russian orphanage for about ten years of her life, until she was finally adopted by an American family. Apparently, the spread of lice was common and if they were discovered to have lice their heads would be shaved bald. She always would throw in the fact that she really liked the orphanage because they did fun things, such as camp or all girl sleepovers. The only other thing I really know about orphanages is that adoption rules are very strict. To be able to adopt you have to meet many requirements and if you meet those you are then put on a giant waiting list.