We believe that every child has the right to a family. Therefore a big part of our work is to get to know the child’s story and work towards resettlement back to the family. Many children leave home due to harsh circumstances at home such as abuse, rejection or because of poverty and the vision of Kampala being the city of opportunities. When they finally get there, they realize street life isn’t as easy as they thought and they have no money to return.
Follow Ups
Re-Integration
Foster Care
Independent Living
If the youth is 18 years and above without a biological family / relatives. As the main objective of the organization is to reintegrate / reunite children with their families. We carry out periodic follow-up visits to assess the individual’s progress and the family’s economic stability, after examining child`s family stability, the child will cease to be on the save sunshine shelter kids support program that is if their family is found able to support him or her. But if the family is not stable enough to support the child, we continue supporting them this enables children to connect with their relatives again for a happy life and excellence in their studies.
No matter the reason of coming to the streets is, our goal is to help our children and their families to establish a relationship again and in the best cases, be resettled back home. Each child has a contact person who is responsible for the resettlement. During the first year after a resettlement, we follow up through monthly home visits. During the second year, every three months until the resettlement is complete.
Activities Involved: -
FAMILY TRACING.
Family tracing allows us to find and learn of the locations/Villages many of the children come from and this takes much time as some parents and guardians are often in different places and we have to reach out to all of them in order to discover the truth behind the child's reason to join the streets.
RE-UNITING
Where Resettlement is possible, we re-unite the children with their families. With re-uniting comes with responsibility of us getting close to know the family and do surprise visits so as to ensure that kids are treated as we are told by their parents. We support the child until they are well.
FINAL RE-SETTLEMENTS
We always resettle and re-connect children back with their families once we trace of any still existing parents/Guardians. We finalize once we see that the child is safe and welcomed in the family as normal children and we keep in touch with the child. This process is long and we give it all our time.
FOLLOW- UPS
We are always in contact with the families of the resettled children and extend assistance whenever they need it so as to help keep the children at home. We send school fees and all the needed scholastic materials to ensure that the child is having all the needed support and be kept at home.
WHY WE RESETTLE CHILDREN?
We believe God designed families to depict a Biblical metaphor for how He relates to us, His children. Family provides a sense of belonging, a unit that cheers you on, and a group that shares cultural values. Family preservation is a priority for Save Sunshine shelter kids, as many of the children we encounter come from loving, yet vulnerable families.
Many resettlements fail out of the 3o we do a year, however those that are successful are often very successful and interesting families that come out of the families once they bond and welcome their children back. Families in constant struggle are ones in most cases where Resettlements fail and that is where we come in mostly to sponsor the kids when they are with their families. There are various in which resettlement becomes hindered and at times difficult and in such circumstances it is when we have to cancel a few and have some kids stay at the shelter longer than expected.
Here are the answers to some questions about what resettlement is, how assessments work, and why we believe it is ultimately the best option for the reconciliation of family relationships.
Q: What is resettlement?
Resettlement is when a child in one of Save Sunshine shelter kids, shelter is deemed able to reintegrate with their biological family by Save Sunshine shelter kids’ child development team.
Q: What is the Ministry of Gender and how does Save Sunshine shelter kids, work with them?
The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development is a government agency in Uganda that is responsible for community empowerment, protection and promotion of the rights and obligation of the specified vulnerable groups for social protection and gender responsive development.In short, the Ministry of Gender ensures that organizations, like Save Sunshine shelter kids are implementing appropriate policies and guidelines that promote children’s rights, safety, and protection.
Q: What is family tracing?
The tracing process occurs before a child is officially brought under the care of Save Sunshine shelter kids to look for the family of origin or any relatives that could potentially care for the child.
Q: How does Save Sunshine shelter kids choose who gets resettled?
After a child is placed in a Save Sunshine shelter kids, shelters, our intern social workers work with families continually to assess their needs and suitability for resettlement. Our first priority is to ensure child safety when considering resettlement. Save Sunshine shelter kids, our intern social workers assess family wellness to ensure there is no threat of abuse or neglect when resettling a child into their family. We also consider the age of the child in respect to Ugandan law regulating children’s homes. We believe in the child’s right to be involved in their care plan, so we collaborate with families and children to determine readiness for resettlement.
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Q: What process does a child go through to prepare for resettlement?
Step 1: Family Tracing
When the Ministry of Gender places a child under Save Sunshine shelter kids care, our intern social workers seek to establish a connection with the child’s biological family within the first 30 days. If family is located, the intern social worker creates a plan of care based on the child’s needs which often involves planning for resettlement. If family is not located, the child is officially admitted into the Save Sunshine shelter kids, shelter and tracing continues.
Step 2: Identification
Social workers and Child Development Director identify potential candidates for resettlement.
Step 3: Post-tracing Counseling
Our Interns Social workers sit with the child to get their feedback and attitude towards the tracing exercise.
Social workers counsel the child to help them understand the resettlement process and involve the child in his or her care plan. The child has the opportunity to give feedback and receive emotional support.
Step 4: Family Assessments
Family assessments are completed to give us insight on how to support a child and their family. We are able to determine the condition at the home and community where a child might be resettled.
Step 5: Reconciliation Visits
Our social workers arrange intentional bonding visits between the child and their family before they officially move into resettlement.
Step 6: Counseling and Interview
Our Intern counselor and social workers meet with each child before resettlement occurs to cover the benefits of resettlement, answer questions, and address any concerns.
Step 7: Resettlement Package
We prepare packages with items like mosquito nets, food, toiletries, etc. needed to support the child’s transition.
Step 8: Follow Ups
After resettlement occurs, regular visits are planned by our Intern social workers to check on the child’s transition back to life with their family and community.
Q: How are families prepared before resettlement?
Families are given caregiver’s training prior to the resettlement to give them confidence and emotional support upon receiving the child. This training covers their role as a parent to provide, protect, and nurture their children. Usually, there are family and individual counseling sessions or meetings with government officials from the Ministry of Gender, especially the probation officers. Families are briefed on the best ways to support their child’s specific behaviors, emotional, or medical needs. The intern social worker will also work with the family to identify resources to help the family stay strong and meet the child’s other basic needs.
Q: Why is resettlement a good thing?
At Save Sunshine shelter kids, we embrace resettlement because we appreciate God’s design for family. A child’s biological family is able to provide a sense of belonging, a lifelong connection to a community, cultural traditions, shared history, and important skills.
Q: What is our hope for resettlement?
Our hope is to ensure the successful reunification of a child back to his or her family of origin through the resettlement process. Reuniting children with family will only be considered the best option if it is deemed safe and appropriate for the child’s case.
Q: How do we support families after resettlement?
Our intern social workers, who learn and get trained by Save Sunshine shelter kids, in Uganda, stay connected and involved in the child’s life as a way of supporting parents. Through our resettlement transition process, we maintain the child’s education, medical care, and discipleship through visits and Hajara ensures this is all done and kept on a watch until the kid says or demands us to stop with the visits and engagements.
Q: What if resettlement is not possible?
We do all we can to ensure successful resettlement, as well as, explore different options of alternative care provided in Uganda including domestic adoption, long-term foster care, and kinship care. In cases where those options are not possible, Save Sunshine shelter kids is committed to supporting that child in our homes, with the permission of the probation officers or police.
Q: How long is the resettlement process?
The process varies case by case depending on the circumstances and the readiness of the child and family to reintegrate. In some cases, resettlement can take only a few months, whereas others might take years.We are so grateful for each life that walks through our door, and are always humbled when God has allowed us to love on an individual. Ultimately, these children are God’s children and we trust in His sovereignty first and foremost. If you have remaining questions pertaining to the resettlement process, reach out to us! We’d love to further the conversation!