Five devastating effects of family separation on children—and how we can stop it 

Yet, millions of children worldwide are unnecessarily separated from their families due to poverty, war, displacement, natural disasters and other crises.  

Research published by SOS Children’s Villages found that children who grow up without parental care face higher risks of emotional trauma, developmental delays and future instability.  

The long-term effects of this separation are profound, not only for the children affected but also for entire communities.  

But together, we can change this reality for children. By strengthening families, expanding child protection programs and ensuring children have family-like care when needed, we can protect children from the devastating consequences of separation and ensure every child has the opportunity to grow up in a nurturing family.  

1. Emotional and psychological trauma 

Healthy relationships between parents or caregivers and children are crucial for a child’s long-term well-being. Nurturing bonds help children develop mental resilience, problem-solving skills and healthy coping mechanisms.  

But when a child is separated from their family, that foundation is ripped away.   

Losing a parent is deeply traumatic for a child. Studies show that children who experience family separation are at higher risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  

Separation can lead to additional mental health challenges, including: 

• Increased anxiety, depression and likely development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 

• Struggles with self-regulation and emotional resilience 

• Higher risk of attachment disorders and difficulties forming healthy relationships later in life 

In institutionalized care, like traditional orphanages, where child-to-caregiver ratios can be as high as 31:1, these effects are exacerbated—especially when children are separated from their siblings. Siblings are often a child’s last remaining connection to their family, and losing them only compounds the trauma, confusion and intense sense of loss. 

Read more: Why institutionalized care isn’t the answer  

Whenever possible, children should remain with their families. When separation is unavoidable—in cases of parental death, abuse, neglect or other dangerous situations—children should have the opportunity to stay with their siblings and placed in family-like environments with trained, trauma-informed caregivers. 

2. Delayed cognitive development 

Children need consistent love, attention and educational stimulation to reach their full potential. But without a safe, stable and nurturing home life, children’s cognitive and emotional development are significantly delayed.  

According to Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child, children in institutionalized care often experience:  

• Reduced brain activity in areas related to problem-solving, communication and social skills

• Difficulty forming healthy interpersonal relationships 

• Lower academic performance due in some cases to lack of emotional stability 

Children who have lost parental care should be provided with stable, family-like environments through alternative care solutions like SOS Children’s Villages to ensure they receive consistent, nurturing attention.  

By providing children with trauma-informed care, stability and individualized support, we can prevent lifelong developmental setbacks. 

3. Increased vulnerability to exploitation and abuse 

Without the protection of a parent or trusted caregiver, children face a much higher risk of exploitation, including human trafficking, forced labor and child marriage.  

According to the United Nations, one in 10 children worldwide are exploited in child labor.  

The risks are even greater in conflict zones and humanitarian crises, where family separations skyrocket, and children are left unprotected. 

Read more: Five ways children are most vulnerable in crises—and how we can protect them. 

Rapid family reunification, strengthened child protection protocols and trained caregivers are critical in keeping separated or unaccompanied children safe from harm. 

By strengthening families and prioritizing child protection, we can reduce the risks children face in emergencies and create safer, brighter futures for the world’s most vulnerable children. 

4. Disrupted education and economic stability 

Education is one of the greatest tools a child uses to build a successful future. Yet, family separation significantly disrupts a child’s ability to learn and succeed.  

How separation affects a child’s education:  

• Lower literacy rates and academic performance 

• Increased dropout rates 

• Displacement due to conflict or natural disasters leading to lost school years 

Children separated due to migration, conflict or natural disasters face additional education challenges due to school closures, destruction of academic structures and materials and lack of basic needs—a child can’t focus on their education or future when fighting to survive in the present. 

Education and economic empowerment programs play a crucial role in preventing family separation and ensuring children have the support they need to achieve their full potential.  

By providing families with economic empowerment resources, we can prevent unnecessary family separation due to poverty and give children the opportunities and resources they need to build bright, independent futures with quality access to education.  

5. Contributes to generational cycles of poverty 

The impact of family separation extends beyond childhood—it carries over into adulthood and future generations.   

Children who grow up without stable family support are more likely to:  

• Face economic instability as adults 

• Struggle to find sustainable employment 

• Experience housing insecurity 

All of which increases the chances that their children will face similar hardships. 

But generational cycles of poverty are breakable. 

When families are strengthened—through economic empowerment programs, positive parent training, mental health support and other customized interventions—they have the resources they need to stay together and provide for their children, positioning their entire family for future success. 

How we can stop family separation 

Ending unnecessary family separation requires a community effort—and you can be part of the solution. 

By partnering with SOS Children’s Villages, you can join a worldwide community of child advocates working relentlessly to:  

• Build stronger, more resilient families 

• Deliver emergency relief in crisis zones to ensure children and families remain safe and together. 

• Ensure children without parents remain with their siblings in a loving family environment with a trained, nurturing caregiver.  

No child should grow up alone.  

Support programs that strengthen families and provide trauma-informed, family-like care to separated children and help ensure that every child grows up in a safe, loving family.  

Together, we can break the cycle of separation and create a future where all children grow up in safe, loving families. 

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