Protestant Orphans’ Homes (POH) offer a unique anomaly to institutional care pre- confederation. These homes were built under the religious duty of middle class women who took part in charitable work. These women were part of an initial movement towards changing institutional to scientific child care. These homes took in children fed, clothed, and educated them in a “family- like” environment. The Canadian POH were mainly run by women which was unusual for this time era. Most of the other institutions of this time were ran by men, and started by mans interest. POH created a new perspective to child care.

Apprenticeship/Adoption:

Apprenticeship was POH main way of integrating children into the community. The lady managers worked with families to offer children an education within a trade and to be apart of the community outside of the Homes walls. Children were to be apprenticed when they turned the age of 12. At this time the home would find a suitable family that the Managers approved. In this home they were to be taught a trade, fed, and clothed. It was also expected of these homes to fulfill beyond material needs and create a welcoming place for the children. The individual circumstances of the children were taken into account when looking into adoption. the women of POH understood that long-term institutional care was unappealing and would in some cases send children out sooner. This would give them a chance to grow up in a family environment.

Care withing the Home:

The Lady Managers of POH realized that importance of maternal care, and that many of these children were deprived of parental guidance. Within the home a Matron acted as a parental figure who was to run the daily activities of the home. As well as a teacher was to come into the home and offer the children an education. This education was equivalent to one in a school. Children were to help around the home and learn responsibilities before they were sent into the community.