Kidsave Support Session Week 4

1. Kidsave Support Session Week 4

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. Preparing for Departure • 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.

6. At The Airport • 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

7. Airport Goodbye • 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

8. Upon Their Return to Bogota • 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 3rd • from 8:00AM-9:00PM • (Colombian time) • PH: 057-1-2118002 or • PH: 057-1-2175180

9. Communication Post Program • We are working with ICBF to change the current protocols.

10. Ongoing Advocacy for Your Host Child • 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

11. Adoption • 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

12. Talking About Adoption….Not • 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.

13. As Departure Nears • 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

14. Saying Goodbye • 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

15. Saying 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

16. Saying Goodbye • 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.

17. Adoption • 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

18. Adoption • 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?

19. Moving Forward to Adopt • 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

20. Moving Forward to Adopt • 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 InstitutoColombiano 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 deltak@kidsave.org

21. Discussion • Q & A • Program Evaluation