Through generous support from our donors, SOS Children's Village BC has been able to provide many special resources and support services to the foster parents and children who reside on site. These resources and support services create an increase in stability and continuity. Children who are removed from the care of their birth families due to abuse, abandonment, neglect, addictions or death, have all experienced trauma which creates serious issues of grief and loss. The losses for a child who enters the foster care system are numerous.
SOS provides continuity and a sense of belonging by providing a community where children have the opportunity to build relationships with other children and adults, and to develop talents and skills through the participation in a host of activities and programs. We aspire for every child who comes into an SOS supported home that their lives are enriched.
The Family Continuance Program offers four service strategies in order to increase stabilization and reduce breakdown:
LITERACY: poor academic achievement as a result of developmental delays and trauma, can contribute to acting out behaviors and delinquency. Integrated literacy instruction through Oxford Tuition, specialized day programs, private schools, instructional support through child and youth workers, contribute to competency and greater educational proficiency.
LIFESKILL DEVELOPMENT: every day life can present enormous difficulties for foster children to overcome, however, through problem solving instruction programs, involvement in community service projects, anger management groups, therapy and specialized camps, foster children can develop social and emotional skills to cope effectively with life's challenges.
ARTS AND RECREATION: foster children can develop their creative talents and feel a sense of pride through music, dance, arts, and crafts. Recreational activities such as swimming, ice-skating, wood-working, gardening, etc. builds physical strength and strong self-esteem.
RELIEF PROVISION: allows foster parents to take a break from everyday challenges. It is a time for self care when skilled individuals come into the home while the foster parents exit for a weekend, in order to regain balance and maintain health.
Lifeskill Development Up Close: Art Therapy
An interview with Frauke Reddick, one of the art
therapists at SOS BC. She explains what art therapy
is and how it helps foster children supported by the
Family Continuance Program to process negative
emotions in an acceptable and positive way. She also
talks about the wonderful mural all the children
in the Village worked together to paint.
Neurofeedback Therapy Explained
This is a fascinating demonstration of a high-tech,
emerging therapy called Neurofeedback, which SOS
Children's Village BC has had great results with. David
Bowes, one of the therapists at the organization, uses
this technique to help foster children that suffer from
attention deficits, anxiety, depression, behavioural and
sleep disorders, migraines, and other brain disorders by
teaching the brain to function better.
Video produced by Ami Catriona
