Preparing to Transition: A Brief Window into Moving Towards Family Solutions

companion primer

PREPARING TO TRANSITION: A BRIEF WINDOW INTO MOVING TOWARDS FAMILY SOLUTIONS

Applied Research for Vulnerable Children + Families

For leaders committed to excellence for vulnerable children and the communities that care for them, CAFO’s Center on Applied Research for Vulnerable Children and Families is a trustworthy bridge between research, practice, and care reform that provides the best available guidance to inform the most effective care for children.

To learn more, visit cafo.org/ovc

WHAT DO WE KNOW? Both scripture and science affirm that children grow best in healthy families. Organizations that currently provide residential care, such as orphanages and children’s homes, are often well-positioned to reshape their programs to support care for children within families. These programs typically have competent staff, committed donors, and strong relationships in the communities where they serve, enabling them to make major contributions to family care.

WHAT CAN WE DO? Organizations who transition towards family-based models of care contribute to a robust “continuum of care� that can meet the unique needs of each child and maximize opportunities for children to grow up in nurturing families. Engaging in new models of care brings many unknowns. Will children be cared for well? How will donors and partners respond? Will we succeed? It can be a very uncertain time for programs.

Organizations can prepare to reshape their programs by understanding what influences the transition process. By learning how to transition your program into a family-based model of care, you can think through the process for how to transition in a safe and encouraging space.

6 KEY COMPONENTS TO TRANSITIONING TO FAMILY CARE

“Collaboration is critical to the success of any program, and transitioning to a new model of care makes that truer than ever.�

ENGAGEMENT Each stakeholder’s response toward the move to family care will depend on a number of factors, including their role, focus, and motivations. It is important to listen and seek to understand their perspective, meeting them where they’re at, and walking with them to bring them along on the journey.

Collaboration is critical to the success of any program, and transitioning to a new model of care makes that truer than ever. Each stakeholder - from leadership, staff, and board members to donors, program partners, and the children and families themselves - need to be willing to work together in order to achieve the desired outcome. For many, the idea of shifting directions may elicit a strong emotional response. Feelings of regret, doubt, shame, guilt, anger, or grief may rise to the surface at different times, and it is vital to listen, affirm, and validate. Only then will stakeholders be able to truly consider the possibilities of moving toward family care.

Consider: which type of support, guidance or resources are available to you for this step in the transition process?

CASE MANAGEMENT The goal of case management is to match a child to the individualized placement and services that will allow them to thrive. As a residential care facility pursues the transition to family care, gatekeeping is an important step to consider and implement. Gatekeeping is the decision-making framework that decides whether a child should be removed from biological family care, and what type of care is best for them. A “continuum of care” refers to the types of placements and services available to care for vulnerable children and families in any given context. In order to make placements based on the best interest of the child, it is critical to have access to a full continuum of care. This could look like:

• • • • • • •

Family strengthening Family reintegration Kinship care Foster care Adoption Small group homes Independent living

Consider: which type of support, guidance or resources are available to you for this step in the transition process?

FAMILIES Reasons for residential care placement can vary widely and although there are no comprehensive global numbers, we do know a significant number of children living in residential care have surviving parents or living relatives. While most parents want the best for the children, many are under-resourced, unprepared, or lack support.

However, for many parents and relatives, a modest investment of support can build their capacity and make them able to raise their children in a secure, loving, and healthy family environment.

One of the most significant indicators to child well-being is caregiver health.

Supporting families begins with preventing separation wherever possible, often accomplished through family strengthening. Family strengthening includes providing any services that expand family capacity. This might look like vocational, economic, psychosocial, physical, and parenting skills support.

The goal is not to close orphanages, but rather strengthen families to the point that large-scale residential care is no longer necessary, and can be reshaped into other family and community support.

Consider: What are some family strengthening supports that might be necessary for families in your community?

“One of the most significant indicators to child well-being is caregiver health�

ASSET TRANSITION One of the greatest hesitations when transitioning programs is what will become of caregivers and on-field support staff. Thankfully, these leaders often have the motivation, cultural context, and useful practical skills to make them ideal supports to the newly-designed model. Some staff will need additional training, but each person will have a mix of experiences, motivations, and emotions they bring to the transition and it is critical to listen, validate, and work with them to mutually beneficial solutions.

Partnerships and other community relationships are also critical assets that need to be cared for in any transition. Discussing transition plans with local partners will allow for education, planning, and synergy, and may lead to the creation of a stronger continuum of care.

Consider: What assets does your organization have right now? What are some ways these assets can be repurposed to support families (both biological and/or alternative families) to care for children?

MEASUREMENT Monitoring and evaluation gives programs an accurate picture of strengths, improves outcomes by uncovering gaps or weaknesses in services, and communicates with accuracy and integrity when reporting to partners and supporters. By thinking strategically and planning before making the transition to family care, organizations can think through the necessary steps, needs, and opportunities they will have in advance. This helps ensure programs meet the objectives and proper care throughout the entire transition process.

Consider: How can your organization measure the success of the transition to family care? What are the indicators of success?

“Family care is typically far more financially efficient and sustainable long-term�

FUNDRAISING One of the primary questions around the transition to family care is, “how do we fund this?”. There is both good news and bad: the good news is that family care is typically far more financially efficient and sustainable long-term. However, the bad news is that there may be initial “spike costs” as an organization maintains current programming while building capacity to move towards the new model.

Financial partners may have key insights to making the transition process successful and may be willing to share business knowledge, strategic advice, or other skills beyond their financial involvement. Keeping financial partners informed and included goes a long way towards helping them be invested in the mission of the organization, and to see themselves as part of the transition.

Consider: What parts of your current funding model would need to change to support family care?

“Family based models of care can provide the love, nurture, and security that allows children to thrive.�

Making the transition to a family model of care takes time and preparation. Collaborating and discovering solutions with partners, volunteers, and supporters is vital as you move along this new journey. As you consider the steps needed to transition, parents and relatives are empowered with another chance to reunite with their children, ultimately improving their child’s future.

The transition to family care is possible, and we are all along this journey - together.

To learn more about training for transitioning to family models of care, visit: https://issuu.com/christianalliancefororphans/docs/simlab_brochure

To learn more, visit cafo.org/ovc

Š 2020 Christian Alliance for Orphans