We're embarking on a new adventure, an exciting time at Hogar de Vida. For some time, there's been discussion about changing our model. Now we have a strategy and a pilot project to work out the kinks.
Last December, PANI (Costa Rica's Child Welfare Services) decided to permit the separation of sibling groups in order to facilitate the adoption of the younger children. We didn't like the idea at first. How on earth could this be good for anyone? However, we understand that they want each child to have a family and being part of a sibling group frequently gets in the way. Some adoptive parents want an older child and others want a younger one, but when the deal is all or nothing, then nobody gets anything. It's a complex situation not only in Costa Rica, but in every country. The biological parents have made a mess and the government is just trying to clean up the mess. At Hogar we can't replace the nuclear family but this is a harmonizing place. Over the years we've seen the older kids getting older and older and they don't get adopted, which breaks our heart. So if the government thinks it better for kids to be separated we are going to run with it and follow their lead.
This change will include changing the age groups in the three children's homes. Dena and Karla (our psychologist) have done some important preliminary planning. We know how the tias feel and what age group each one prefers. The tias are very excited. The philosophy has always been "getting the right people in the right seat on the bus." The tias are excited. And the new arrangement will solve a problem that has bothered us for some time, in that sometimes the tias are busy with the littlest ones so the older kids get less attention. We want QUALITY care for ALL our kids. With similar ages in each house, the attention to each kid will be more balanced.
House One will be the House for the "big kids" from ages 4 through 10. Kattia and her team of tias are fired up to have the 13 older ones because they are very creative and can do things like get up at a moment's notice to go off campus. They can concentrate on teaching the kids to help with chores, to accept responsibility and to cooperate instead of having everything done for them.
House Two and Rebeca's team have the toddlers -- 12 kids between 18 months and 2 � years. Rebeca's husband Cesar works in Hogar Maintenance during the day and is the Poppa during the evening hours. House 2 is blessed to have a couple and the kids LOVE Cesar and Rebeca.
House Three will be the "casa cuna" or the baby house. Ruth and her great team will have 12 babies in their home. All these precious little ones require special attention. We may have to buy more rocking chairs.
Some of the houses are currently undergoing remodeling changes to install suitable bathroom fixtures and a much larger baby-changing station. Hogar is a beehive of activity and expectation. We are excited for the change and thankful for Christ who strengthens us! With God's help, Hogar de Vida will be an even better shelter for the children that we love and serve every day. ---Helen Smith
P.S. Our greatest need at this time is Tia sponsorships at $700 per month! We are praying for 5 sponsors or groups or churches to help with this current need. This is an absolutely audacious prayer, but our God is able. Check out the Sponsorship Program or Make a Tia Sponsorship Commitment and set up an automatic monthly donation via Auto-Withdrawal (EFT) or Credit Card.