Kidsave Training 2

HousekeepingReview calendarPreparing for your child’s arrivalWhen you arrive homeThe Transition - first days…

settling inImportance of routine, schedule,

predictabilityHoneymoon periodChaperoneTranslatorsCamp and camp behaviorSupport sessionsWeekend eventsUtilizing Kidsave support

Topics to Cover

Paperwork statusItems missing per family

FinancialHosting fees/application

fees owedMoney raised to

date/money left to raiseFundraising – how

balance of funds will be raised

Housekeeping

Dates for Calendar

Arrival & departure dates – • Arrival early July (3?)• Departure early August (2?)

Support session dates• July - TBD• July - TBD

Weekend event dates• Saturday, July• Sunday, July• Saturday, July• Sunday, July

Chaperone dates in your home• Review with each family

Preparing For Your Child’s Arrival Tell your friends, family, co-workers that you are

hosting Identify camp for your child if you have not yet

done so Get to know other host families – contact

information provided by Kidsave Have your host child’s room ready

Don’t forget a nightlight, Spanish books/magazines Purchase a lice treatment and/or familiarize

yourself with businesses who do professional lice treatments

Have a calendar with events ready for your host child to see (template available)

Review the safety plan document with your children

Have chaperone accommodations prepared regardless of schedule

Preparing For Your Child’s Arrival

Learn some Spanish phrases and words – make flash cards in English and Spanish and put around the house

Familiarize yourself with Colombian restaurants, foods and recipes Kids love soup, chicken, rice and lots of

fresh fruit Bigger meals at lunch (usually hot), smaller

for dinner Watch the soda…they rarely have in

Colombia Watch the sugar

Have your house routines ready to review with your host child

If you can have them translated that would be very beneficial

Airport ArrivalCome 30 minutes earlier than

arrival timeDon’t forget your welcome signBring a backpack with small

welcome giftsHave snack ready for your child Have something in your car if your

host child gets sickChaperone schedule subject to

change at this timeWear your Kidsave t-shirtBring your camera!

When You Arrive Home

Dogs – keep them in a separate room upon arrival – kids may be scared

Show your host child around your home – where they will be sleeping, bathroom

If not too late review house routines/rules

Be sure your host child knows where you will be sleeping

Be prepared that sleep may be difficult the first night due to excitement/over stimulation

Adjustment Issues Kids may have a hard time falling

asleep Not used to sleeping alone Have a nightlight in the room Some prefer the door open,

others prefer closed Food

Kids dislike spicy foods Need comfort foods (chicken,

rice, Colombian food) Love Hawaiian pizza!

Kids may have difficulties if families have little or no Spanish Make use of translation services

– app on smart phones!– Google Translator

The Transition

Limit Choices/Don’t Over Indulge Overwhelmed with too many choices Avoid supermarkets , Target and malls early on Remember…when you give them choices they may not know what the choices are (especially food in the pantry) Don’t encourage the child to eat seconds and thirds Keep sweets as a special treat Limit sodas Don’t overdo activities – give kids down time Limit TV, computer and video game time

The Transition

The Importance of Routine, Schedule, Predictability

Have your calendar posted with all activities and be sure your host child understands the schedule for each day

Review the next day’s schedule at dinner the night before

Keep a routine for waking up, dinner, time for bed, TV time, computer time

The Honeymoon Period

Usually lasts 1-2 weeks After the first couple of weeks

more likely to test the rules, boundaries

Contact your social worker with any challenges that present for tools to deal with the situation

Keep your coordinator informed The coordinator and social worker

will be checking in to be sure you are supported.

Other things…. Coordinators will assign a buddy

family to each host family Weekly reports – MANDATORY –

access on Kidsave website - provide information for ongoing advocacy

Departure…all kids must go back If you have children – be sure to talk

to your child about welcoming the child into your home – let them know they might get jealous…it is normal and that they must come to you when they are having these feelings

Don’t forget to give your own children some one on one time during the visit.

Things That Could Occur

• Inappropriate use of computer or television

• Money or special items stolen or in your host child’s bag

• Your host child may dislike camp

Role of Chaperones & Translators

Translators Translate only what is said Translator NOT there to build a

relationship with the child but to help build the hosts’ relationship with the child

Schedule of translators /contact info/time availability will be provided by coordinator

ChaperoneWill stay with you

approximately one week

May not speak English

Will write two reports – after 2 weeks and one final

Is NOT to take the lead but to assist host families as needed

Summer Day Camp

Talk to the director about

advocacy (i.e. child specific advocacy flyer, camp

newsletters, media) Pack enough food for snacks

and lunch Be sure your contact

information is inside your host child’s backpack

First day of camp – stay with your host child until they are comfortable

Be sure to talk to the camp director and counselor BEFORE the child arrives (no personal history to be shared, does not know how to swim, does not speak English, may be shy )

Visit the camp with your host child prior to camp starting…trial run! Ideally the child will have 2 or 3 days to settle in before starting camp Send your host child with a backpack and all items needed

Support SessionsMandatorySession 1:

Purpose to discuss how kids are doing

Share storiesProvide support around issues

that are presentingInput from chaperone

(translator must be available)Session 2:

Review departure infoHow to say goodbyeOngoing communication and

adoption decisions

Weekend Events

Attendance required Don’t be late! Can miss one event – Week 2 Where visiting families will

come to meet the kids Where chaperone can see all

the kids at one time Where kids can see each other

and check in Invite media Advocacy, advocacy, advocacy

Utilize SupportContact sheet provides

email and phone information for host families, social worker and Kidsave LA

Keep contact sheet on the refrigerator and in your car, and input numbers into your phone

Make contact with your buddy family BEFORE the child arrives

Contact coordinator for program questions, & social worker for issues that need attention