The brand of SOS is long term care provided to a specific group of children that do not have other suitable alternatives available. Long term family based care remain the principal focus and scope of the organization considering that donors in Europe provide funds primarily for this purpose. This is what has constituted the strength and specificity of SOS during the last 70 years and has to remain the central core of its activities. Experience shows that organizations that have dispersed themselves in too many activities have lost focus and disintegrated.
In countries where there is no need or no request for long term family based care SOS can withdraw and concentrate its efforts and resources elsewhere.
Temporary care
Temporary care is a service that SOS can provide in national contexts where it is necessary and demanded, however it has to be a completely different programme and setting that does not mix and interfere with the SOS family model.
Some family houses can be made available in the villages for temporary care (maximum 1-2 years) for children that have temporary lost parental care mainly due to judicial measures. However, staff have to be specifically trained for this programme and the care model has to be different from the SOS family.
Family reunification …show more content…
Regular communication and contacts between the children and their family of origin has to be promoted and encouraged, however reunification may only happen if there are willing families, and there exist proper conditions, support and monitoring. Children that have been entrusted under our care remain our responsibility and cannot be sent into a family, even their own biological family if such decisions are not for the best interest of the