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WHY DO YOU THINK FAMILY EMPOWERMENT WILL WORK BETTER THAN FAMILY SPONSORSHIP?
The CRC transitioned from a long-term residential orphanage to a family-care system in 2016 - 2018. During this time, we created a social work team to ensure that children reintegrated back into families well. The team began to visit all families monthly to check on their status. This practice continued as the CRC grew to support over 600 children in impoverished families that were at-risk of fracturing. However, ongoing and unchanging financial support for a lifetime is not the answer to people born into poverty. It diminishes ability to develop self-management and know the dignity of moving toward independence. Supporting a family for years and years also limits the CRC’s capacity to help additional vulnerable families. HCW is strategically anchored in the philosophy of local ownership of solutions. In fact, the more localized the solutino, the more likely it will be sustainable. That is why we are working with the CRC to equip and empower families to care for their children. The CRC is now working to find ways to truly strengthen families and empower them to fend for themselves. The CRC’s primary goal is to remove barriers to families' graduation from CRC services. They are working their way out of a job every day. But, with over 70,000 children living on the streets in Sierra Leone because of poverty, it's a long process. |
WHY FAMILY ADVOCACY INSTEAD OF FAMILY SPONSORSHIP?
If you've been a sponsor, you know that child sponsorship programs can be a life-changing force for children who would otherwise be unable to access education or medical care. When CRC changed its model of care, we looked at what kind of changes made sense on our side in supporting that work. We raised a lot of money for support of children through sponsorships. However, even the best child sponsorship programs raise some ethical questions around promoting an ethos of donor guardianship over a child, and positioning a child as a “money engine” within the family. It also leads to a greater focus on that child (by both donor and in some respects, the CRC), when best practice in social work focuses on the entire family as the unit of care.
Our current SAC program focuses on the financial and material support provided to vulnerable families while ignoring the actual strengthening and capacity building work that is the actual work of the CRC program. Shifting the focus to the real social work activities and sharing those stories will illuminate the real impact and change on families learning to become stronger and more resilient. Yes, HCW donors provide funds that contribute in part to things like school fees and medical care, but even more importantly, these funds are used - through targeted social work and family strengthening curriculum - to enable a family to find the dignity of independence over time. Becoming and advocate for strengthening the capacity of families allows us to pursue more of a partnership model that empowers families’ “capacity to use outside resources while reinforcing the qualities of autonomy, responsibility, and resourcefulness (Fikkert and Mask).”
HOW ARE THINGS CHANGING?
The social work of the CRC has increasingly focused on the family as the unit of care, and is now putting into place mechanisms to work with families to set “graduation” goals, chart their progress toward independence, and help them to get there. They’re seting expectations with caregivers in the CRC programs that they’ll be given the tools and capacity to become independent within approximately 5 years.
We’re changing the way we support families in the CRC program to reflect that the CRC has changed ‘the way we care’ for these families - more holistically, and more focused on empowerment and self-sustainability. Advocates will gain a bigger picture of how the CRC works to build the capacity of families to make them stronger, more self-reliant, and capable. Communications from the field will let advocates see how families are progressing toward independence, because of the generous support of advocates and the hard, skilled work of the CRC social work team.
Family Empowerment Advocacy also provides new ways for Advocates to engage. Advocacy can mean providing ongoing financial support into the program - and see how your dollars not only provide for education and healthcare, but have a real impact on helping families become stronger. But it can also include opportunities for you to advocate on behalf of families in the program with your church, small group, neighbors, families and friends.
If you've been a sponsor, you know that child sponsorship programs can be a life-changing force for children who would otherwise be unable to access education or medical care. When CRC changed its model of care, we looked at what kind of changes made sense on our side in supporting that work. We raised a lot of money for support of children through sponsorships. However, even the best child sponsorship programs raise some ethical questions around promoting an ethos of donor guardianship over a child, and positioning a child as a “money engine” within the family. It also leads to a greater focus on that child (by both donor and in some respects, the CRC), when best practice in social work focuses on the entire family as the unit of care.
Our current SAC program focuses on the financial and material support provided to vulnerable families while ignoring the actual strengthening and capacity building work that is the actual work of the CRC program. Shifting the focus to the real social work activities and sharing those stories will illuminate the real impact and change on families learning to become stronger and more resilient. Yes, HCW donors provide funds that contribute in part to things like school fees and medical care, but even more importantly, these funds are used - through targeted social work and family strengthening curriculum - to enable a family to find the dignity of independence over time. Becoming and advocate for strengthening the capacity of families allows us to pursue more of a partnership model that empowers families’ “capacity to use outside resources while reinforcing the qualities of autonomy, responsibility, and resourcefulness (Fikkert and Mask).”
HOW ARE THINGS CHANGING?
The social work of the CRC has increasingly focused on the family as the unit of care, and is now putting into place mechanisms to work with families to set “graduation” goals, chart their progress toward independence, and help them to get there. They’re seting expectations with caregivers in the CRC programs that they’ll be given the tools and capacity to become independent within approximately 5 years.
We’re changing the way we support families in the CRC program to reflect that the CRC has changed ‘the way we care’ for these families - more holistically, and more focused on empowerment and self-sustainability. Advocates will gain a bigger picture of how the CRC works to build the capacity of families to make them stronger, more self-reliant, and capable. Communications from the field will let advocates see how families are progressing toward independence, because of the generous support of advocates and the hard, skilled work of the CRC social work team.
Family Empowerment Advocacy also provides new ways for Advocates to engage. Advocacy can mean providing ongoing financial support into the program - and see how your dollars not only provide for education and healthcare, but have a real impact on helping families become stronger. But it can also include opportunities for you to advocate on behalf of families in the program with your church, small group, neighbors, families and friends.
WHAT IS FAMILY STRENGTHENING?
Example: Fatmata Mattia is a strong lady with a good heart. Her husband died in 2017. He was sick for three years with cancer of the throat. Fatmata has four children living with her at home. The 5 of them share a 4-room unfinished house at the outskirts of town with 5 other family members. The house was being built when her husband got sick and passed away. She lives in the house with her sister, who has her own 4 children as well. Fatmata and her children have two rooms, and the other two rooms belong to her sister and her children. They both have been working together to save money to finish the house.
In addition to being a microfinance beneficiary, Fatmata also received family mentoring, ongoing case management, training in attachment and family strengthening workshops offered by the CRC. “All these teachings from the CRC have been very helpful as I bring up these children as a single mother. That’s why I don’t skip them. I always look forward to attending those parenting workshops,” said Fatmata. “With the death of my husband and all those other family challenges, it was becoming more and more difficult every day. But I know that our God doesn’t sleep. He saw our suffering and He sent the CRC as a rescuer. We are grateful.” Fatmata values education and she wants the best for her children. The children are doing well in school and Fatmata makes sure that the children are regular and punctual in school. She knows when they children should be in school and when they should be off from school, and speaks with the teachers to keep informed of her children's progress.
From her business, she can now have food on the table when her children are from school. She has the funds to enroll her children into extra (after school) classes to strengthen their academic performance. She strongly believes that with her children getting educated, things will just continue to be better. She takes her business seriously. “Initially, I used to be worried when schools were about to open. I think about the number of uniforms and learning supplies to get. I worry about how and where to get the school fees and extra charges for the children. I will be stressed out. But now with my business my worries have ceased. I can now do a lot of these for my children.”
Sometimes after school the children pass by her shop to visit. They sometimes would help her fix buttons on uniforms, and dresses. They wait around to close the shop and come home to cook and have family time. “My children also help to advertise my business to their friends at school and community. Their word-of-mouth advertisement has been really helpful in getting me more customers.” Fatmata added. She is presently using the regular tailoring machines at her shop. She is working on getting an embroidery machine that will help her grow her business even more.
Example: Fatmata Mattia is a strong lady with a good heart. Her husband died in 2017. He was sick for three years with cancer of the throat. Fatmata has four children living with her at home. The 5 of them share a 4-room unfinished house at the outskirts of town with 5 other family members. The house was being built when her husband got sick and passed away. She lives in the house with her sister, who has her own 4 children as well. Fatmata and her children have two rooms, and the other two rooms belong to her sister and her children. They both have been working together to save money to finish the house.
In addition to being a microfinance beneficiary, Fatmata also received family mentoring, ongoing case management, training in attachment and family strengthening workshops offered by the CRC. “All these teachings from the CRC have been very helpful as I bring up these children as a single mother. That’s why I don’t skip them. I always look forward to attending those parenting workshops,” said Fatmata. “With the death of my husband and all those other family challenges, it was becoming more and more difficult every day. But I know that our God doesn’t sleep. He saw our suffering and He sent the CRC as a rescuer. We are grateful.” Fatmata values education and she wants the best for her children. The children are doing well in school and Fatmata makes sure that the children are regular and punctual in school. She knows when they children should be in school and when they should be off from school, and speaks with the teachers to keep informed of her children's progress.
From her business, she can now have food on the table when her children are from school. She has the funds to enroll her children into extra (after school) classes to strengthen their academic performance. She strongly believes that with her children getting educated, things will just continue to be better. She takes her business seriously. “Initially, I used to be worried when schools were about to open. I think about the number of uniforms and learning supplies to get. I worry about how and where to get the school fees and extra charges for the children. I will be stressed out. But now with my business my worries have ceased. I can now do a lot of these for my children.”
Sometimes after school the children pass by her shop to visit. They sometimes would help her fix buttons on uniforms, and dresses. They wait around to close the shop and come home to cook and have family time. “My children also help to advertise my business to their friends at school and community. Their word-of-mouth advertisement has been really helpful in getting me more customers.” Fatmata added. She is presently using the regular tailoring machines at her shop. She is working on getting an embroidery machine that will help her grow her business even more.
What’s changed and why?
The CRC wants to do more, and do it better. Ongoing and unchanging support has a tendency to foster dependence. It diminishes the family's ability to develop self-management and know the dignity of moving toward independence. The CRC is now working to find ways to truly strengthen families. As the CRC's social work team has increased and deepened their own skills, they now seek to use these skills where they are most needed. They can work with individual families to identify goals, build toward those goals, and help families to graduate from CRC services. In fact, the CRC aims to be no longer needed, one family at a time, so that it can then
Supporting a family for years and years also limits the CRC’s capacity to help additional vulnerable families. The CRC is bringing in more street-connected children to reintegrate them into families and is expanding outreach in more villages. It is becoming more critical to focus heavily on the early stages of CRC care, when acute needs are greatest and families are most fragile.
How will CRC do this?
By working more strategically, the CRC team will be able to strike a better balance: more intensive case management of fragile families, and less intensive case management of families that are closer to graduation. Toward this end, the CRC has launched a new "Zone" approach to caring for families. These color-coded zones highlight a family's progress from the "red" emergency zone to orange, yellow, and ultimately the "green" graduation zone.
To assist families through this process, each family in CRC care will have it's own case plan that will guide progess toward graduation. In the case plan, CRC staff will identify ways in which families might benefit from specific community group trainings. For instance, families struggling financially may be recommended to the CRC's microfinance program. Families that need extra support with parenting or trauma can attend the Attachment Theory program. Beginning in summer of 2021, the CRC will begin to offer an integrated combination of these two programs as outreach in the villages for families that otherwise would not be able to attend in Bo.
Strengthening existing community networks through such group programs is a natural fit in Sierra Leone. Families' case plans will also guide CRC staff to work individually with families to target special needs, including financial or material support that will likely lessen as the family becomes more self-sufficient.
The CRC wants to do more, and do it better. Ongoing and unchanging support has a tendency to foster dependence. It diminishes the family's ability to develop self-management and know the dignity of moving toward independence. The CRC is now working to find ways to truly strengthen families. As the CRC's social work team has increased and deepened their own skills, they now seek to use these skills where they are most needed. They can work with individual families to identify goals, build toward those goals, and help families to graduate from CRC services. In fact, the CRC aims to be no longer needed, one family at a time, so that it can then
Supporting a family for years and years also limits the CRC’s capacity to help additional vulnerable families. The CRC is bringing in more street-connected children to reintegrate them into families and is expanding outreach in more villages. It is becoming more critical to focus heavily on the early stages of CRC care, when acute needs are greatest and families are most fragile.
How will CRC do this?
By working more strategically, the CRC team will be able to strike a better balance: more intensive case management of fragile families, and less intensive case management of families that are closer to graduation. Toward this end, the CRC has launched a new "Zone" approach to caring for families. These color-coded zones highlight a family's progress from the "red" emergency zone to orange, yellow, and ultimately the "green" graduation zone.
To assist families through this process, each family in CRC care will have it's own case plan that will guide progess toward graduation. In the case plan, CRC staff will identify ways in which families might benefit from specific community group trainings. For instance, families struggling financially may be recommended to the CRC's microfinance program. Families that need extra support with parenting or trauma can attend the Attachment Theory program. Beginning in summer of 2021, the CRC will begin to offer an integrated combination of these two programs as outreach in the villages for families that otherwise would not be able to attend in Bo.
Strengthening existing community networks through such group programs is a natural fit in Sierra Leone. Families' case plans will also guide CRC staff to work individually with families to target special needs, including financial or material support that will likely lessen as the family becomes more self-sufficient.
Are we changing SAC to FEA?
Yes and No.
International development is shifting away from strategies that “make [indigenous people] dependent on foreigners for human and financial support (From Dependence to Dignity, Fikkert and Mask).” Helping Children Worldwide is committed to “[using] financial resources very strategically, placing a greater focus on training, equipping and leadership development… by providing consulting training and some financial resources offered in a nuanced, backstage, complementary and support role (Fikkert and Mask).” We need a new tool to reflect the CRC’s refined focus on the family as the unit of care (vs. a single child). We also want to help donors understand the depth and complexity of the social work the CRC is engaging families in and how it is designed to empower a family to become truly independent. We want our donors to understand that the funds they contribute have a far greater impact on a family’s growth than just access to education and medical care.
Additional things that will likely change: the SAC Christmas parties are now set up for children who are enrolled in the CRC direct scholarship programs, but not their siblings who aren’t, or their caregivers. Letter writing events too are inclusive only of CRC/SAC children. Shifting to a focus that embraces the entire family will mean that these activities look a little different moving forward.
We urge you to transition to the advocacy team, however, you may continue to connect with your SAC sponsored child in the same way you have for the foreseeable future. It takes a great deal of work to engage your sponsored child in letter writing activities. Family advocates have a number of tools to communicate and learn about the ways their support is making a difference. However, these tools are crafted in a way that works to empower the family and restore dignity and self-determination. At the same time, we think they will be more enriching and satisfying to you as a donor and empowerment advocate. We are giving advocates better communication tools and we know you will be excited to use them!
Yes and No.
International development is shifting away from strategies that “make [indigenous people] dependent on foreigners for human and financial support (From Dependence to Dignity, Fikkert and Mask).” Helping Children Worldwide is committed to “[using] financial resources very strategically, placing a greater focus on training, equipping and leadership development… by providing consulting training and some financial resources offered in a nuanced, backstage, complementary and support role (Fikkert and Mask).” We need a new tool to reflect the CRC’s refined focus on the family as the unit of care (vs. a single child). We also want to help donors understand the depth and complexity of the social work the CRC is engaging families in and how it is designed to empower a family to become truly independent. We want our donors to understand that the funds they contribute have a far greater impact on a family’s growth than just access to education and medical care.
Additional things that will likely change: the SAC Christmas parties are now set up for children who are enrolled in the CRC direct scholarship programs, but not their siblings who aren’t, or their caregivers. Letter writing events too are inclusive only of CRC/SAC children. Shifting to a focus that embraces the entire family will mean that these activities look a little different moving forward.
We urge you to transition to the advocacy team, however, you may continue to connect with your SAC sponsored child in the same way you have for the foreseeable future. It takes a great deal of work to engage your sponsored child in letter writing activities. Family advocates have a number of tools to communicate and learn about the ways their support is making a difference. However, these tools are crafted in a way that works to empower the family and restore dignity and self-determination. At the same time, we think they will be more enriching and satisfying to you as a donor and empowerment advocate. We are giving advocates better communication tools and we know you will be excited to use them!
