Kidsave International Inc

KIDSAVE'S MISSION IS TO CREATE CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT CHILD WELFARE SYSTEMS SO THAT NO CHILD IS FORGOTTEN AND EVERY CHILD GROWS UP IN A FAMILY WITH LOVE AND HOPE FOR A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE. THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMMATIC CORNERSTONE IS ITS FAMILY VISIT MODEL, AN INNOVATIVE METHOD FOR ENGAGING ADULTS AND CHILDREN, AND PROVIDING CHILDREN WITH VOLUNTEER ADVOCATES WHO CAN HELP THEM FIND PERMANENT FAMILIES AND CONNECTIONS TO CARING ADULT MENTORS.

LOS ANGELES COUNTYWEEKEND MIRACLES LOS ANGELES IS A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER 2005, BETWEEN KIDSAVE AND THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (DCFS). KIDSAVE AND DCFS WORK TOGETHER TO HELP OLDER KIDS AND TEENS IN FOSTER CARE (AGES 9-18) FIND COMMITTED ADULTS CALLED HOST FAMILIES, PERMANENT FAMILIES, AND DEVOTED MENTORS. THESE CHILDREN HAVE SPENT YEARS IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. THEY ARE LANGUISHING IN FOSTER CARE WITH LITTLE HOPE FOR ADOPTION, OR A LASTING CONNECTION WITH A CARING ADULT. WEEKEND MIRACLES PROVIDES THESE CHILDREN WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE WILLING TO HOST, MENTOR OR ADOPT THEM. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES MONTHLY INTERACTIVE EVENTS DESIGNED TO MAKE IT EASY AND FUN FOR OLDER CHILDREN AND TEENS IN FOSTER CARE TO MEET NEW PEOPLE. AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROGRAM IS THAT IT PROVIDES YOUTH WITH A VOICE AND CHOICE IN WHOM THEY GET TO KNOW AND DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH, WHICH EMPOWERS AND ENGAGES YOUTH IN THE PROCESS, AND ALSO BUILDS THEIR CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM.ONCE INTERESTED FAMILIES AND KIDS MEET AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AT KIDSAVE'S MONTHLY CONNECTION EVENTS, RELATIONSHIPS DEVELOP NATURALLY. YOUTH WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ADOPTION ARE MATCHED WITH HOST FAMILIES WHO EITHER HOPE TO ADOPT OR CHAMPION ON A YOUTH'S BEHALF FOR AN ADOPTIVE FAMILY. YOUTH WHO ARE NOT INTERESTED IN ADOPTION ARE MATCHED WITH A CARING HOST MENTOR WHO PROVIDES SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE. IN SOME CASES, HOST FAMILIES ADOPT THE FOSTER YOUTH THEY HOST. IN OTHERS, YOUTH MEET FAMILIES WHO ADOPT THEM THROUGH OTHER ADVOCACY EFFORTS. KIDSAVE'S GOAL IS FIND FAMILIES AND MENTORING SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR OLDER KIDS BY MAKING IT EASIER FOR ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY TO MEET AND ENGAGE WITH OLDER KIDS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY. WEEKEND MIRACLES LOS ANGELES PARTNERED WITH DCFS, FOSTERALL, AND EXPRESSIONS 58 TO ORGANIZE AND FACILITATE THE FIRST ANNUAL CAMP CONNECT, AN OVERNIGHT WEEKEND CAMP EXPERIENCE. CAMP CONNECT FOCUSED ON HELPING 45 OLDER FOSTER YOUTH (AGES 11-17) WHO WERE RELUCTANT TO TRUST AND BUILD HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADULTS TO BECOME MORE OPEN TO BUILDING SAFE ADULT CONNECTIONS. THE WEEKEND EXPERIENCE INCLUDED TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES, INTERACTIVE ART WORKSHOPS, AS WELL AS INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKERS WHO ADDRESSED HOW TO IDENTIFY HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND SAFE BOUNDARIES. ADDITIONALLY, YOUTH AND ADULTS WHO HAD EXPERIENCED FOSTER CARE OR HAD BEEN ADOPTED SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ADULT CONNECTIONS. AFTER EVALUATING THE POST-CAMP SURVEYS OF THE TWENTY-FOUR (24) YOUTH WHO WERE NOT ALREADY PARTICIPATING IN WEEKEND MIRACLES LOS ANGELES, 91% OF THE YOUTH (21) WHO WERE AMBIVALENT ABOUT BUILDING ADULT CONNECTIONS BECAME MORE OPEN. FIFTEEN (15) OF THESE TWENTY-ONE (21) YOUTH (71%) WERE REFERRED TO WEEKEND MIRACLES LOS ANGELES. THREE YOUTH WERE SUBSEQUENTLY MATCHED WITH FAMILIES PURSUING ADOPTION, FOUR YOUTH FOUND PERMANENCY WITH A RELATIVE, AND WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR FOUR YOUTH. BASED ON THE SUCCESS OF THIS FIRST CAMP EFFORT, KIDSAVE AND ITS PARTNERS BEGAN PLANNING A SECOND CAMP CONNECT FOR 2022. DUE TO THE IMPACT OF COVID-19, IN 2021, KIDSAVE CONTINUED TO HOLD "MEET THE KIDS" EVENTS VIA ZOOM UNTIL JUNE, WHEN KIDSAVE RESUMED CONNECTION EVENTS OUTDOORS. AT THESE OUTDOOR EVENTS MASKS WERE REQUIRED FOR ALL PARTICIPATING CHILDREN, FAMILIES, STAFF, VOLUNTEERS AND OTHER GUESTS; PROOF OF COVID-19 VACCINATIONS OR NEGATIVE COVID-19 PCR TEST RESULTS WERE REQUIRED FOR ALL ADULTS IN ATTENDANCE. OF THE 83 CHILDREN AND TEENS SERVED IN 2021, 58 REMAINED ACTIVE THROUGH THE YEAR, 52% OF THESE YOUTH WERE CONNECTED TO WEEKEND HOSTS, ADOPTIVE MATCHES, LEGAL GUARDIANS OR NONRELATED EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS. SINCE OCTOBER 2005, WEEKEND MIRACLES LOS ANGELES HAS SERVED 538 CHILDREN AND TEENS; 74% OF THE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS HAVE FOUND A CONNECTION THROUGH AN ADOPTIVE MATCH, LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP, FAMILY REUNIFICATION, OR A LASTING RELATIONSHIP.HOUSTON, TEXASKIDSAVE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED ITS WEEKEND MIRACLES HOUSTON PROGRAM IN 2020 AND 2021 WAS THE FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR OF OPERATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM. IN 2021, WEEKEND MIRACLES HOUSTON WORKED WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS HEARTS WITH HOPE, EMBRACING DESTINY, L'AMOR VILLAGE AND HOLD MY HAND. IN 2021 WEEKEND MIRACLES HOUSTON SERVED 20 FOSTER YOUTH, CONNECTED SEVEN WITH MENTORS AND HOSTS, AND THREE FOSTER YOUTH MOVED INTO PERMANENT PLACEMENTS WITH THEIR HOST FAMILIES. THIRTY-SEVEN PERCENT (37%) OF PARTICIPATING YOUTH MOVED TO A LOWER LEVEL OF CARE. WEEKEND MIRACLES HOUSTON HELD SIX IN-PERSON CONNECTION EVENTS AND 40 VIRTUAL CONNECTION EVENTS VIA ZOOM.

PERMANENCY INITIATIVESAS A VOICE FOR GLOBAL CHANGE, KIDSAVE WORKS TO BUILD AWARENESS AMONG THE PUBLIC AND IN CONGRESS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT CHILDREN IN GOVERNMENT CARE FACE, AND POSSIBLE WAYS TO HELP THEM. KIDSAVE USES ITS DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAMS TO DEMONSTRATE HOW ITS FAMILY VISIT MODEL WORKS, AND SHARES INFORMATION ABOUT ITS PROGRAMS WITH CHILD WELFARE PROFESSIONALS, WITH THE GOAL OF INCREASING GREATER USE OF PERMANENCY FOR OLDER YOUTH. IN 2021 IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, KIDSAVE WAS ACTIVE IN SEVERAL PUBLIC-PRIVATE SECTOR COMMITTEES THAT ADDRESS PERMANENCY FOR LOS ANGELES COUNTY FOSTER YOUTH, WHICH INCLUDE: (1) THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY ADOPTION CONSORTIUM, A COLLABORATIVE DEDICATED TO EDUCATING STAKEHOLDERS ON NEW LEGISLATION, COUNTY POLICIES, AND ISSUES AFFECTING PERMANENCY; (2) THE PERMANENCY COLLABORATION COMMITTEE, A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN KIDSAVE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (DCFS) OF L.A. COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT, WORKING TO IMPROVE PERMANENCY OUTCOMES FOR PROBATION YOUTH; (3) CASA OF LOS ANGELES, WHICH MOBILIZES COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ABUSE AND NEGLECT; (4) FOSTERALL, AN ORGANIZATION THAT RECRUITS PROSPECTIVE FOSTER PARENTS FROM FAITH COMMUNITIES AND HELPS FAMILIES SELECT THE AGENCY THAT IS BEST SUITED FOR THEM BY PROVIDING ONGOING PERSONAL SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THEIR FOSTER/ADOPT EXPERIENCE; (5) FOSTER TOGETHER NETWORK (FTN), A COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVE OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS COMMITTED TO INCREASING ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY CARE FOR CHILDREN PLACED IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY'S FOSTER CARE SYSTEM; (6) KIDSAVE WAS ACTIVE IN FTN'S EQUITY COMMITTEE, A SUBCOMMITTEE FORMED TO INCREASE AND ENHANCE THE PROVISION OF CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND COMPETENT CARE FOR BLACK CHILDREN, IN EFFORT TO FACILITATE WELL-BEING AND IMPROVE THEIR LIFE OUTCOMES; AND (7) FOSTERMORE, A COALITION OF MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT COMPANIES, FOUNDATIONS, NON-PROFITS, BUSINESSES AND PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO CREATE GREATER UNDERSTANDING, EMPATHY, AND ACTION TO IMPROVE THE FUTURE OF YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE. IN 2021 KIDSAVE ALSO WORKED WITH (1) THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY OFFICE OF CHILD PROTECTION, AN INDEPENDENT OFFICE REPORTING TO THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WHOSE OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO WORK WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF PARTNERS TO IMPROVE THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM; (2) THE FOLLOWING FOSTER FAMILY AGENCIES: EXTRAORDINARY FAMILIES, ALLIES FOR EVERY CHILD, KOINONIA AND PENNY LANE; AND (3) RAISEACHILD, A LEADER IN THE RECRUITMENT AND SUPPORT OF LGBTQIA AND ALL PROSPECTIVE PARENTS INTERESTED IN BUILDING FAMILIES THROUGH FOSTERING AND FOSTERING-TO-ADOPT, TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE, AND BUILDING LOVING FAMILIES FOR FOSTER CHILDREN. KIDSAVE CONTINUED TO PARTNER WITH RAISEACHILD AT THEIR MONTHLY PARENT MATCHING EVENTS, WHERE FOSTER YOUTH WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE WEEKEND MIRACLES PROGRAM ARE FREQUENTLY PRESENTED FOR ADOPTION. BECAUSE KIDSAVE AND THE HOST FAMILIES WHO PARTICIPATE IN WEEKEND MIRACLES ENGAGE WITH AND LEARN ABOUT PARTICIPATING KIDS IN A WAY THAT THEIR SOCIAL WORKERS AND CAREGIVERS SELDOM DO, KIDSAVE IS ABLE TO BRING A UNIQUE STRENGTH-BASED PERSPECTIVE TO ADVOCACY FOR THESE KIDS AT MATCHING EVENTS. IN 2021 IN TEXAS, KIDSAVE WAS A PARTICIPATING MEMBER OF THE REGION 6 FOSTER CARE STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATIVE, THE TEXAS ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES, THE GREATER HOUSTON MENTORING ALLIANCE, THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE TEXAS STATE BAR'S CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT COMMITTEE, THE CHILD WELFARE SECTION OF THE TEXAS STATE BAR, THE TEXAS ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES, THE TEXAS FOSTER CARE ASSOCIATION, THE CHILD WELFARE SECTION OF THE TEXAS STATE BAR, THE TEXAS ALLIANCE/DFPS REGION 6 DATA WORKGROUP, THE REGION 6 CCSS PREVENTION WORKGROUP, THE REGION 6 CCSS BUILDING WORKGROUP, THE REGION 6 CCSS COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THE REGION 6 CCSS BUILDING CAPACITY COMMITTEE. IN 2021 KIDSAVE HAD MOUS WITH HEARTS WITH HOPE GRO/RTC, EMBRACING DESTINY GRO/RTC, L'AMOR VILLAGE RTC, AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES (DFPS). KIDSAVE COLLABORATED WITH THE FOLLOWING CHILD PLACEMENT AGENCIES: THE SANCTUARY, ARROW CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES, ARMS WIDE, AND PATHWAYS; AND THE FOLLOWING NGOS: FOSTERING FAMILY, HARRIS COUNTY YOUTH COLLECTIVE, LOVE FOSTERS HOPE, AND WE WILL SPEAK.

SUMMER MIRACLESKIDSAVE'S SUMMER MIRACLES PROGRAM BRINGS OLDER CHILDREN (AGE 9 TO 15) WHO NEED PERMANENT FAMILIES, FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO THE U.S. FOR SUMMER VISITS. THESE ARE CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN ORPHANAGES AND FOSTER CARE, HAVE NO CHANCE OF RETURNING TO BIOLOGICAL FAMILIES AND WHO HAVE LITTLE OR NO CHANCE OF FINDING ADOPTIVE PARENTS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRIES. FAMILIES WHO HOST THE CHILDREN HELP THEM ENJOY A RICH CULTURAL EXPERIENCE AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WORK TOGETHER WITH KIDSAVE STAFF AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS TO CHAMPION THE CHILDREN, REACHING OUT TO THEIR CIRCLES OF FRIENDS, ACQUAINTANCES, AND COMMUNITIES TO FIND FAMILIES INTERESTED IN ADOPTION.IN 2021 KIDSAVE FACILITATED THREE FAMILY VISIT PROGRAMS IN THE SPRING, SUMMER, AND WINTER BRINGING A TOTAL OF 86 CHILDREN, (INCLUDING EIGHT WHO RETURNED FOR A SECOND VISIT), FROM COLOMBIA, SOUTH AMERICA A TO STAY WITH HOST FAMILIES IN THE U.S. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2021, OF THE CHILDREN WHO TRAVELED, 74% (64 CHILDREN) WERE MATCHED FOR ADOPTION. SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION IN 1999, TWO THOUSAND AND FORTY-FIVE (2,045) OLDER CHILDREN HAVE PARTICIPATED IN KIDSAVE'S SUMMER MIRACLES PROGRAM; 76% OF THESE CHILDREN HAVE FOUND PERMANENT FAMILIES.PRIOR TO THE SPRING, SUMMER AND WINTER VISITS IN 2021, KIDSAVE HELPED THE COLOMBIAN CHILD WELFARE AGENCY, INSTITUTO COLOMBIANO BIENESTAR FAMILIAR (ICBF), IDENTIFY CHILDREN WHO WERE APPROPRIATE FOR KIDSAVE'S SUMMER MIRACLES PROGRAM AND RECRUITED AMERICAN HOST FAMILIES. BEFORE TRAVELING TO THE U.S., THE CHILDREN WERE INTRODUCED TO THEIR HOST FAMILIES VIA ZOOM. THE VISITS WERE FILLED WITH EVENTS WHERE THE CHILDREN MET FAMILIES INTERESTED IN ADOPTION. THE CHILDREN ENJOYED ACTIVITIES-THEY VISITED AMUSEMENT PARKS, WENT SWIMMING, ATTENDED BASEBALL GAMES, AND DURING SUMMER, ATTENDED SUMMER CAMPS-ALL WHILE GETTING TO KNOW THEIR HOST FAMILIES.AFTER THE CHILDREN RETURNED TO COLOMBIA, KIDSAVE PROVIDED SUPPORT TO PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE FAMILIES AND WORKED COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR PARTNER ADOPTION AGENCIES. KIDSAVE ALSO BEGAN OUTREACH EFFORTS TO RECRUIT PROSPECTIVE HOST FAMILIES FOR THE SUMMER 2022 PROGRAM.THE GOVERNMENT OF COLOMBIA HAS INCORPORATED THE PREMISE OF KIDSAVE'S HOSTING MODEL, FAMILY VISITS FOR YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE AND ORPHANAGES, AS ITS PRIMARY STRATEGY FOR FINDING FAMILIES FOR OLDER, HARD-TO-PLACE YOUTH. OVER THE 23 YEARS THAT SUMMER MIRACLES HAS BEEN IN OPERATION, MORE THAN 65 PLACEMENT AGENCIES AND NONPROFITS HAVE OPERATED SUMMER HOSTING VISITS. KIDSAVE'S SUMMER MIRACLES COMMUNITIES IN THE NEW YORK TRI?STATE AREA (NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, AND CONNECTICUT), NEW ENGLAND (MASSACHUSETTS), WASHINGTON, DC METRO AREA (DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, MARYLAND, AND VIRGINIA), CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ALL DID SIGNIFICANT OUTREACH ABOUT THE NEED FOR ALL CHILDREN, AND EACH INDIVIDUAL CHILD VISITING THEIR COMMUNITIES, TO GROW UP IN FAMILIES.

PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACHKIDSAVE'S WEBSITE, BLOG AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS FOCUSED ON SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT CHILDREN IN NEED OF FAMILIES AND BOLSTERED ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT FOR THE CHILDREN THROUGH HOSTING, VOLUNTEERING, DONATING, AND ADOPTING. THROUGH KIDSAVE'S SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS MORE THAN 25,000 PEOPLE REGULARLY SAW ADVOCACY IMAGES OF SPECIFIC CHILDREN, WHICH GENERATED HUNDREDS OF INQUIRIES AND RESPONSES.KIDSAVE ALSO USES EVENTS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT KIDSAVE'S MISSION, THE NEED FOR CHILDREN WORLDWIDE TO LIVE IN FAMILIES, AND SPECIFIC CHILDREN WHO NEED PERMANENT FAMILIES. IN 2021 DURING THE ONGOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC, KIDSAVE SUPPORTED A SECOND ANNUAL VIRTUAL GALA EVENT VIEWED BY PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT BROUGHT AWARENESS OF THE NEED FOR OLDER, FORGOTTEN CHILDREN TO HAVE FAMILY CONNECTIONS AND RAISED FUNDS TO SUPPORT PERMANENCY PROGRAMS. IN 2021 DURING A LULL IN IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, KIDSAVE WAS ABLE TO HOLD AN IN-PERSON GOLF TOURNAMENT IN LOS ANGELES. INTERNATIONAL IN-COUNTRY PERMANENCY PROGRAMSINSTEAD OF OPERATING OFFICES IN NUMEROUS COUNTRIES GLOBALLY, KIDSAVE HAS BUILT LOCAL CAPACITY THROUGH TRAINING AND STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE.RUSSIA-CHILDHOOD KEEPERS BECAME FULLY SELF-SUSTAINABLE IN 2019, AND CONTINUED TO SUCCESSFULLY OPERATE KIDSAVE'S CORPORATE MENTORING PROGRAM IN RUSSIA IN 2021. CHILDHOOD KEEPERS IS AN INDIGENOUS RUSSIAN ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSES ON PROMOTING MENTORING CONNECTIONS AND LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FOR OLDER CHILDREN GROWING UP IN OR RECENTLY EMANCIPATED FROM RUSSIA'S CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. KIDSAVE CONTINUED IN 2021 TO PROVIDE CHILDHOOD KEEPERS WITH TRAINING AND SUPPORT AS NEEDED, WHICH SERVED OUR JOINT COMMITMENT OF FINDING MENTORS, AND ASSISTING WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE SKILLS, FOR OLDER ORPHANED AND ABANDONED CHILDREN IN RUSSIA.COLOMBIA-KIDSAVE'S FAMILY VISIT PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT'S PRIORITY OF FAMILY INCLUSION FOR CHILDREN IN GOVERNMENT PROTECTION. FUNDACIN APEGO BECAME INDEPENDENT OF KIDSAVE IN 2018 AND CONTINUES TO SUCCESSFULLY OPERATE KIDSAVE'S FAMILY VISIT MODEL/SUPER AMIGOS PROGRAM AND MAMA MENTORA PROGRAM. FUNDACIN APEGO IS AN INDIGENOUS COLOMBIAN ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSES ON THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF CHILDREN, TEENS AND FAMILIES, AND WORKS WITH GIRLS IN EARLY PREGNANCY TO DEVELOP STRONG MATERNAL BONDS AND BREAK THE CYCLE OF CHILD ABANDONMENT. KIDSAVE CONTINUES TO SHARE LESSONS LEARNED AND PROVIDE FUNDACIN APEGO WITH TRAINING AND SUPPORT AS NEEDED, WHICH SERVES OUR JOINT COMMITMENT OF FINDING FAMILIES AND MENTORS, AND ASSISTING WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE SKILLS, FOR OLDER ORPHANED AND ABANDONED CHILDREN IN COLOMBIA.UKRAINE-KIDSAVE HAS BEEN WORKING IN UKRAINE SINCE 2016 AND IS PART OF THAT COUNTRY'S DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION GROUP AIMED AT REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN LIVING IN ORPHANAGES. KIDSAVE HAS A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN FOR CHILDREN AND THE FAITH-BASED UKRAINE WITHOUT ORPHANS. KIDSAVE IS ALSO A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE UKRAINE NATIONAL MENTORING ASSOCIATION. KIDSAVE'S CORPORATE MENTORING PROGRAM FOR OLDER CHILDREN WHO WILL SOON AGE OUT OF GOVERNMENT CARE HAS BEEN AT WORK IN KIEV SINCE 2016. IN ADDITION TO THE MENTORING WORK, KIDSAVE'S FAMILY VISIT PROGRAM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, SUNRISE OF DREAMS AND MOI DOM, OPERATED IN KHERSON AND MYKOLAIV SINCE 2019. KIDSAVE'S FAMILY VISIT PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO HELP SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY MOVE OLDER ORPHANED CHILDREN INTO FAMILY CARE. IN 2021 KIDSAVE'S FAMILY VISIT PILOT PROGRAM IN UKRAINE SERVED 20 NEW YOUTH, AND 41 YOUTH FROM PRIOR YEARS. OF THE 61 CHILDREN IN THE PILOT PROGRAM 36 (59%) MOVED OUT OF ORPHANAGES AND INTO PERMANENT FAMILY CARE. ANOTHER 15 (25%) WERE MATCHED WITH DEDICATED HOSTS/MENTORS. THE PILOT PROGRAM ENDED IN DECEMBER 2021.IN ADDITION, AS A RESULT OF KIDSAVE'S TRAINING OF PARTNERS, ANOTHER 108 CHILDREN WERE PLACED IN FAMILIES: 44 CHILDREN WITH KIN/EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS, 62 IN FAMILY GROUP HOMES, AND TWO WITH ADOPTIVE FAMILIES. KIDSAVE ALSO CONTINUED ITS EMPLOYMENT PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS PROGRAM THAT SERVES YOUTH AGES 14-21, WHO WILL SOON OR HAVE ALREADY AGED OUT OF GOVERNMENT CARE. PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO THESE YOUTH IN DEVELOPING ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS, EMOTIONAL LITERACY, AND WORKFORCE READINESS, AS WELL AS FINDING THEM MENTORS, INTERNSHIPS AND JOBS. THE PROGRAM SERVED 30 NEW YOUTH IN 2021, AND 45 YOUTH FROM PRIOR YEARS. AFRICA-KIDSAVE'S SIERRA LEONE PROGRAMME MOVES CHILDREN OUT OF ORPHANAGES AND, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, REUNITES THEM WITH EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS (KIN). WHEN REUNIFICATION WITH KIN IS NOT POSSIBLE, KIDSAVE IDENTIFIES NEW FAMILIES FOR THESE CHILDREN THROUGH COMMUNITY CONNECTION EVENTS THAT HELP THE CHILDREN AND INTERESTED FAMILIES GET ACQUAINTED. THESE FAMILIES HOST THE CHILD IN THEIR HOME, WHICH PROVIDES THE CHILD WITH STABILITY, SUPPORT AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO REMAIN IN SCHOOL. MOST OF THESE CHILDREN WERE ORPHANED DUE TO THE EBOLA VIRUS. KIDSAVE WORKS WITH ITS PARTNER, THE FOUNDATION FOR INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT (FID). FID PROVIDES FAMILY TRACING, CASE MINING, REUNIFICATION, TRAINING OF FAMILIES AND PARA-SOCIAL WORKERS, AND MONITORING OF CHILDREN PLACED WITH KIN OR HOST FAMILIES. MONITORING TAKES PLACE AT ONE-MONTH, THREE-MONTH AND SIX-MONTH INTERVALS AFTER PLACEMENT. CHILDREN ARE MONITORED TO BE SURE THEY ARE HEALTHY, HAPPY, GOING TO SCHOOL, WELL FED, AND GENERALLY PROVIDED FOR APPROPRIATELY. KIDSAVE ALSO PROVIDES SCHOOL SUPPORT FOR THESE CHILDREN WHEN NEEDED, INCLUDING BOOKS, BOOKBAGS, UNIFORMS AND SCHOOL FEES.IN 2021 KIDSAVE CONDUCTED FAMILY-TRACING AND CASE-MINING FOR OLDER ORPHANS WHO BELIEVED THEY HAD LIVING RELATIVES WHO COULD RAISE THEM. AS A RESULT, 52 CHILDREN WERE PLACED WITH KIN OR HOST FAMILIES. THIRTY-FOUR (34) OF THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE PROVIDED WITH SCHOOL AND AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT. KIDSAVE AND FID TRAINED ONE HUNDRED NINETY-ONE (191) CAREGIVERS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND STAKEHOLDERS WERE TRAINED ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN, THEIR PROPER CARE, AND HOW TO MONITOR AND PROTECT THEM COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS EVENTS WERE HELD TO FIND HOST FAMILIES FOR FIVE CHILDREN FIND HOST WHO COULD NOT BE REUNITED WITH KIN.