Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

In recent years, Orphanage Care Practices has emerged as a critical factor shaping rehabilitation of street children across organizations operating in and around Selected States in South-East Nigeria. As institutions grapple with the pressures of globalization, regulatory reform, and shifting stakeholder expectations, understanding how orphanage care practices relates to rehabilitation of street children has become an important area of both scholarly and practical concern.

Within the context of Selected States in South-East Nigeria, this relationship carries particular significance. Organizations in this setting operate under a distinct combination of economic, regulatory, and market conditions that may amplify or dampen the effect of orphanage care practices on rehabilitation of street children, making a context-specific inquiry both timely and necessary.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on orphanage care practices, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with rehabilitation of street children, particularly within Selected States in South-East Nigeria. Many organizations continue to make decisions about orphanage care practices without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect rehabilitation of street children. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Orphanage Care Practices on rehabilitation of street children in Selected States in South-East Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which orphanage care practices influences rehabilitation of street children within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with orphanage care practices in relation to rehabilitation of street children.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing orphanage care practices in order to improve rehabilitation of street children.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of orphanage care practices on rehabilitation of street children in Selected States in South-East Nigeria?
2. To what extent does orphanage care practices influence rehabilitation of street children within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with orphanage care practices in relation to rehabilitation of street children?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize orphanage care practices in order to improve rehabilitation of street children?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around rehabilitation of street children. For managers and practitioners within Selected States in South-East Nigeria, the study provides practical insight into how orphanage care practices can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on social work by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this study confines itself to Selected States in South-East Nigeria, focusing specifically on how orphanage care practices relates to rehabilitation of street children within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.