Summer Miracles Program Protocols

2013

Kidsave Local Volunteer Coordinator Lauren Reicher-Gordon, Program Director

Oversees all program operations Delta Kirkland, Program Coordinator

Liaison for all Summer MiraclesCommunities

Local Social Work Partner Volunteer Translators Buddy Families

KidsaveIdentify and screen children in collaboration with ICBFRecruit host and visiting familiesBuild partnerships with adoption agenciesLogistics – travel, insurance, workshopsBuild and support communitiesProvide training and support to coordinatorsFundraiseDevelop program materials and resourcesNational advocacyInquiry follow upChild specific recruitment

www.kidsave.org

Build your volunteer committees

Collaborate with your local Social Worker

FUNDRAISING!

Recruitment & outreach

Collect and track family paperwork and send to Kidsave’s Los Angeles office

Facilitate host family program and advocacy training and support sessions

Remind families of proper summer protocols (weekly reports, vacations, events, etc.)

Inform Kidsave about any family crises

Conduct Family Psychosocial Study/Home Study, & clearances

Approve families to host and match kids with families

Provide/facilitate Hague training

Provide social work support during child’s visit and crisis intervention

May attend weekend events

May lead support sessions at Week 2 and Week 4

Support family if host child needs to be moved

Help facilitate adoption decisions

June 2013 Engage Media Matching children to families Complete Kidsave Training Final balance of community funds

by June 15th

Early July - Kids arrive!!!

Refer to Host Family Agreement

FinancialPaperworkPreparation

Requirements of Host Requirements of Host FamiliesFamilies

Application fee ($275) Program fee ($1,250 ) Family Psychosocial Study/Home study Support services from your social worker Training Criminal and Child Abuse Clearances Medical (there is a zero deductible – 90/10 policy

families are responsible for 10% of “emergency” medical costs, and 100% of costs for any “elective” doctor’s visits)

Camp costs (if scholarship not obtained) HELP IN FUNDRAISING Food, care, and clothing for your host child NOTE: If a host family cannot afford to pay $1,250

hosting fee, it is the community’s responsibility to raise it.

Application Packet

Driver’s License/Passport (for each parent)

Proof of Auto Insurance (for each person who will drive child)

Family Psychosocial Study (completed by local social worker)

Write letter to host child

Submit family Photo

Orientation meeting Training: BOTH host parents MUST complete Approximately 10 hours Hague training, 3 hours

Kidsave Program and Advocacy Training Training NECESSARY for ALL TYPES OF HOSTS

(new hosts, returning hosts, advocate hosts, back-up hosts, families who have adopted, etc.)

Training RECOMMENDED for VOLUNTEERS and TRANSLATORS and CHILDREN in host families.

Understand the Kidsave emergency medical insurance policy

Childproof your home as required by your social worker

Identify camp for your child if needed Create a calendar

Familiarize yourself with on line translation programs – identify someone in your network that can help with translation

Familiarize yourself with culture, customs, foods Prepare and educate immediate and extended

family and friends Read Host Family Handbook (which includes

“Profile of the Older Post-Institutionalized Child” and “Talking to Your Child about Adoption-NOT!”)

Review “Child Talk” and research online translation sites

Review the Technical Guidelines for Adoption Prepare your friends and family for the upcoming

visit of your host child

Typically covers the following: Attachment

Identify factors that affect attachment and recognize signs of attachment

Race & Culture Discusses the challenges families may not expect when

adopting/hosting a child of a different race or ethnicity Loss & Grief

Help families recognize signs of grief, identify situations that trigger those responses, and develop strategies for helping children grieve

Medical Issues in International Adoption an overview of the common medical issues, health risks and specific

conditions internationally adopted children Adopting an Older Child

Identify challenges specific to older adopted children

Training will also include: Who the kids are , why they are in care, families having

realistic expectations

Will Provide Education to: Aid families in developing realistic expectations of their host

child. Encourage families to reach out to local social worker,

Community Coordinator, Kidsave staff whenever there are problems. Early intervention is best!

Introduce role of the chaperone. Emphasize importance of using translator to help with child’s

transition to home, routine, expectations and activities. Prepare families for magnitude of the adjustment to summer

program and life in the US. Have patience and empathy; recognize that these are children who have not experienced a positive family life.

Emphasize that child’s needs are most important (i.e., need for structure/routine, need for boundaries, etc.)

Highlight that families CANNOT discuss adoption with host child! Communicate Advocacy tools and strategies Review Visiting Family Protocol

ADVOCATE, ADVOCATE, ADVOCATE!!! WEEKLY REPORTS - complete online PHOTOS: Label and upload to dropbox VACATIONS

Vacations can be taken week two No vacation longer than one week Cannot miss more than one weekend event Coordinator must be notified in advance Vacation must be approved by Chaperone, Program

Director or Program Coordinator EVENT ATTENDANCE

WEEKEND- host child/family cannot miss more than one event (should only be week 2)

WEEKDAY- host family is welcomed, but not required. Host child attendance is mandatory; transportation must be arranged.

HOSTING CHAPERONE Usually ONE week (dependent on the number of families hosting) Must stay in home Do not need separate bedroom

but preferred MEDICAL EXAMS FOR CHILD

Need chaperone’s permission for any “elective” non-emergency medical procedures (x-rays, prescriptions, anesthesia, shots, drawing blood, etc.)

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT FORBIDDEN

Alert your Community Coordinator and social worker of any problems or concerns

Be patient with your host child Be FLEXIBLE Provide a safe and nurturing home Work with Community Coordinator to schedule any

activities or visits with potential adoptive families. Your host child can have an overnight with

ONLY another host family Community coordinator must be informed

All persons caring for your host child MUST have clearances completed If your host child will be spending any time at another

person’s home – those person’s must have clearances and a home safety check with your local social worker

DO NOT GET A CHILD’S HOPES UP! Summer experience is intense - families

should have time to think over adoption decision after the child returns home

Uncertain world ~ anything could happen internationally or within the host family that could prevent an adoption

Host families are NOT required to make their adoption decision during the summer visit.

Host families have TWO WEEKS after the children leave to make decision.

Community Coordinator will encourage families to speak to their local social worker partner about their decision during the summer visit AND during the two week decision-making period.

If family has not made a decision nor contacted an adoption agency by the end of the two-week period, Program Director will advise host family that a visiting family will be given the option of pursuing adoption.

Kidsave is NOT an adoption agency – Kidsave will provide you with a list of agency partners that facilitate adoptions

Kidsave has no role or authority in adoption placement decisions

The information provided to us on the children is not always accurate or complete

Sometimes kids that are matched do not travel – this is rare – We do not have the right to “hold” a child for a family –

families must follow ICBF Guidelines for adoption It is impossible to predict how a child will transition into a

family and cope with the absence of everything familiar Children in care can present with emotional and/or

developmental delays We cannot guarantee that your hosting experience will be

without challenges

On Behalf Of The On Behalf Of The Children Thank Children Thank

You!You! Director LA Office

Lauren Reicher -Gordonlauren@kidsave.org

310.642.7283 Summer Miracles

Program AssistantDelta Kirkland deltak@kidsave.org

310.642.7283

www.kidsave.org