Kidsave Support Session Week 4

Packing Families should use a suitcase with wheels no larger than what would fit in an overhead bin. Each child’s bag should have a yellow ribbon tied somewhere easily visible. Each child’s bag needs a label with child’s name and the Kidsave office address in Bogota. What You Can Pack: What the child brought with them New shoes and clothes Mementos and gifts received DO NOT PACK PHOTO ALBUMS AND SCRAPBOOKS.

Backpacks Children should carry a backpack that they can comfortably carry (only one!). What You Can Pack: Photo albums and scrapbooks, sweater, snacks, a special memento. DO NOT PACK LIQUIDS

Gift Guidelines You are not required to purchase gifts for your host child to bring home for their foster family, foundation staff, siblings or friends. If you choose to do so only small gifts such as candy or souvenirs should be purchased.

Review departure date/time/airline Designate a meeting place – arrive three hours before departure. All kids MUST wear their t-shirts on the plane home. NO EXCEPTIONS! Coordinators: Remind the chaperone to bring the passports Confirm the chaperone has money to purchase food for the kids at the airport before departure and/or during any layovers.

One bag per child will be checked Host families should keep their host child in line for check-in ONLY host families, translators, and Kidsave staff can be at the airport unless authorized by the chaperone. Goodbyes will be done before the children go through security

A Variety of Emotions We may see tears We may see excitement about returning to all that is familiar We may see withdrawal – kids unable to say goodbye

The children will stay in Hogar Margarita for 2-3 days prior to returning to their foster families or foundations. You will be allowed ONE phone call on August 3 rd from 8:00AM-9:00PM (Colombian time) PH: or PH:

 We are working with ICBF to change the current protocols.

Managing visits from interested families when you want to adopt: This will be the most challenging part of the visit Remember why we continue to advocate and do your best to participate Talk to your social worker/ Kidsave about your feelings Help your host child to engage in meeting other families Place the best interests of the child first

Shifting from “prospective adopter” to “advocate”: Not every family is the right fit for every child Be prepared to get questions about the decision from close friends and family who may have known your original intentions Consider what type of family would be best for the child and continue advocating in those circles

ICBF maintains that it is not in the best interest of the children to tell them before they leave because: Not all kids will leave with a potential adoptive family There is no guarantee that those moving forward will adopt We don’t want to get the kids hopes up Children need time to process and discuss with their psychosocial teams their visit and future plans. Families must continue to reinforce with their host child that they have enjoyed getting to know them and have really enjoyed the summer visit.

Behaviors you might be seeing Kids disengaging Sadness Difficulty sleeping Not following direction/house rules or routines The child may seem ambivalent about returning Clinginess Don’t take this personally, the child may be using this ambivalence to avoid feelings of loss

Things you might see at the airport: We may see tears We may see excitement about returning to all that is familiar We may see withdrawal – kids unable to say goodbye

Dealing with your emotions Recognize that these feelings are natural and allow yourself time to process them Think of ways (i.e. writing in a journal, talking with your loved ones or social worker) that you can use to help cope with these emotions If you have children, remember that they may be emotional as well and may need the opportunity to talk about this

Don’t Promise! As the child prepares to leave, you may want to make future promises to help put the child at ease, but this can be detrimental as we never know what the future will bring.

Making the adoption decision: Take the two weeks after the child leaves to decompress and discuss the decision Consult with professionals Talk to other adoptive families Let your coordinator know your adoption decision Use your support system

Things to Consider: Time Financial Commitment Resources in the community Family dynamics Do you think you can meet the child’s needs Family support Are you considering adoption for the right reasons?

Families wishing to adopt : Let the coordinator know of your intent Identify a Hague accredited adoption agency working in Colombia to facilitate the adoption Kidsave can provide an agency partner list – you are not required to use these agencies

After the two week period (Friday, August 16) families can submit their Letter of Intent (LOI). Send a signed hard copy of the Spanish version of your LOI via Federal Express or DHL Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar (ICBF) – (template provided with address) LOI must be submitted to ICBF in Spanish Spanish and English versions must be submitted to Delta Kirkland at

Q & A Program Evaluation