Session 20/21

Page 5/7: Topic C: Settling down as a small group home family in the community

Topic C: Settling down as a small group home family in the community

From your activities with Topics A and B, all Parents and children are now well informed.

Please spend ten minutes summing up your experiences from Workplan B:

What did we learn as Parents from the way we informed children in our houses?

What did we learn from the Village Info Meeting?

Including Parents and children in their new community

There are two important keys to successful inclusion in the new community:

Parents and children must build new relations and social networks – with neighbours and their children, with local leaders, street vendors, school teachers and students. Being accepted as natural members of the community requires your planning.

The second key is to include your children and youth in daily chores and activities, and give them responsibilities. Only then will they grow to become self-reliant, and be able to live as adult members of the community. For children who were accustomed to another set of daily duties in the Village, this new development can be a challenge.

 

Let’s listen to the experiences of Mama Tulipo!

Mama Tulipo started as an SOS Parent, and later became a foster mother. Here she describes her own personal development and the positive growth of her foster children.

Planning in our group: How can we network with the new community?

The need for open information also applies to members of the community. Without info, they may host negative ideas of shame and prejudice towards community Parents and children growing up without parents.  Here are some proposals for activities, once the house for the family has been selected – please add your own ideas.

1. Focus group meetings with community leaders, local officials and social workers

Religious and secular leaders in the community are important gatekeepers for the successful inclusion and future support for the small group home members. Focus group discussions by invitation from the Village Director or project manager can be arranged for a leader-to-leaders, to demonstrate respect for the leadership of the community.

Please also invite and agree with local officials and social workers for the new legal status and address of the SOS Parent and the children, and inform any relatives about the change.

2. A get-together event with the new neighbors

The project manager and the mother arrange an informal meeting in the new house with parents in the neighborhood. The manager makes a short introduction of why SOS children need to return to their community, and asks for their support. The mother describes her work and how she looks forward to get to know her new neighbors. The manager leaves, and a more informal meeting with tea and food can begin. The mother asks how she can get to learn and respect her neighbors and the local traditions and activities. She asks for any questions about being a foster mother. At the end of the meeting, she invites neighbors for a small party later, where she and the other parents arrange activities and play, so the children can get to know each other.

 

3. Introducing children to their new school

The child’s (or children’s) SOS Parent and school teacher can arrange a meeting with the future school teacher(s). After the introduction, the present teacher describes the child’s standpoint, ability to learn, and behavior in class. The mother describes the emotional and social abilities and resources. For eventual special needs or disabilities, such as physical handicaps, please see the reintegration guide, p. 22.

At the first day in school, the teacher welcomes the child and instructs its classmates to include it as a friend. If the child agrees, the teacher can describe how the child lived in the Village, and now looks forward to making new friends.

If the Village is not far from school, the class can visit the Village, learn about life in the Village, and play and social activities can be arranged.

Work Plan Topic C: Group discussion and Case Study to minimize risks

  1. How can we adjust these introduction proposals to our local situation?
  2. To foresee and prevent possible risks, please read and discuss this case study with an SOS foster mother and her foster daughter.
  3. Please make your work plan for the foster family’s inclusion in the community.
  4. Please make your work plan for regular follow-up interviews with Parents and children after moving out.

 

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