Orphan

Alternative uses: see orphan (typesetting) , and orphan process in computing.

An orphan is a being , typically a human or animal child , whoseparents have both died. Half-orphans are children with one surviving parent. Most adults beyond a certain age have lost their parents and are not generally referred to as orphans.

In certain animal species where the father typically abandons the mother and childat or prior to birth, the child will be called an orphan when the mother dies regardless of the condition of the father.

Societal treatment of human orphans

Today, in the first world , most orphaned children are cared for by adoption , or sometimes in the case of older children and minorities by foster care .

In past times, orphans often lived homeless as "street urchins", or were caredfor in almshouses , orphanages , oroccasionally monasteries ; most modern people feel that this was a mistake, or, atthe least, provided suboptimal care. In particular, almshouses were often shared with the adult homeless and the (sometimes dangerously) mentally ill inan age when many mental illnesses were incurable.

In some nations faced with war and AIDS , asignificant proportion of the young population is orphaned, which is a major humanitarian crisis. In the People's Republic of China , infant daughters aresometimes abandoned due to the one child policy , which also createsa significant number of effective orphans.

Orphans typically suffer from adjustment problems related to identity, according to studies.

See also

• http://www.afterfostercare.com Canadians affected by foster care, supporting eachother.
• Orphan behavior
• Orphanage
• Psychology oforphan
• Single parent
• Single parentfamily