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 Miracles Communities  Local Social Work Partner  Volunteer Translators  Buddy Families

Kidsave  Identify and screen children in collaboration with ICBF  Recruit host and visiting families  Build partnerships with adoption agencies  Logistics – travel, insurance, workshops  Build and support communities  Provide training and support to coordinators  Fundraise  Develop program materials and resources  National advocacy  Inquiry follow up  Child specific recruitment

 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  Financial  Paperwork  Preparation Requirements of Host Families

 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

During the Program Host Families Responsibilities

 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 Children Thank You!  Director LA Office Lauren Reicher -Gordon  Summer Miracles Program Assistant Delta Kirkland