Supporting Reunification Through Improved Parental Recognition: Reunification of Children with Disabilities Living in Institutional Care in Denmark and Tanzania

Children with disabilities often become separated from their families when their place of residence and care is relocated outside the family home. These separations have both benefits and challenges, creating dilemmas for parents and professionals regarding what is in the child’s best interests. To better understand these circumstances, we explore, in this chapter, the nature of these separations in the contrasting national contexts of Tanzania and Denmark, examining their differences and similarities. We find that in Tanzania, factors such as poverty and superstition play a significant role in these separations, whereas in Denmark, parents’ ambivalent feelings towards separation emerge as a critical factor. However, regardless of the setting, the key to addressing these challenges is collaboration with parents. Whether the children continue to reside in institutions, apart from their families, or eventually return home after receiving institutional care, this collaboration is a priority. We conclude the chapter by exploring how this crucial collaboration with parents can be effectively facilitated in such circumstances.