Family Based Care

St. Dominic’s Children’s Home is dedicated to providing Residential Child Care for children in difficult situations. While the Home offers much more than food, shelter, and clothing, it is not a permanent home for the children. Instead, it fosters a structured environment that includes academics, vocational training, music, creative arts, and life skills to prepare children for reintegration into society. However, a fundamental truth remains: The Home is not their home.

The Importance of Family

From the beginning of time, as recorded in the book of Genesis, God established the family as the foundation of humanity. Psalm 127:3-5 states that children are a gift from the Lord, emphasizing their value within a family unit. Numerous other biblical passages affirm God’s intention for families to remain together, reinforcing that the family was His divine design.

Global Catholic Support for Family-Based Care

The International Union of Superiors General (IUSG), a Catholic organization representing approximately 600,000 sisters and nuns from 80 countries, serves as a global forum for superiors general of Catholic women religious institutions. The Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, a key stakeholder in St. Dominic’s Management, are part of this organization and strongly advocate for children growing up in family environments.

Recognizing this need, St. Dominic’s Children’s Home has begun training to facilitate this transition through The Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), a global organization that unites Christians in caring for vulnerable children and families.

The Role of Families in a Child’s Development

Families provide a safe, loving environment essential for a child's healthy growth and development. A nurturing family offers children a sense of belonging, identity, and stability—critical factors that enable them to navigate life’s challenges. Proper family support is fundamental to a child’s cognitive, emotional, and physical well-being.

The Transition to a Family-Based Care Model

St. Dominic’s Children’s Home is committed to transitioning to a continuum of care, with the Family-Based Care Model as its ultimate goal. Several family care options are available to preserve family relationships and support the well-being of children. These options, as outlined by the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (CATT), include:

1. Family Reintegration
   Where possible and in the best interest of the child, family reintegration seeks to return the child to their immediate or extended family. This process involves strengthening families and building capacity within homes to ensure a safe and supportive environment.
2. Kinship Foster Care
   When reintegration with parents is not feasible, kinship foster care allows other relatives to assume care for the child. The Children’s Authority provides support to these relatives, ensuring the child maintains family connections in a stable and loving environment. This option is prioritized whenever available and suitable.
3. Adoption
   Adoption is the legal process through which a child becomes a permanent member of a new family. It transfers all parental rights and responsibilities to the adoptive parents, making it the preferred long-term placement option, as it offers the stability and love necessary for a child’s optimal growth and development.
4. Foster Care
   Foster care provides a temporary home for children who cannot live with their birth families due to various circumstances. The goal is to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing environment until reunification with their family is possible or a suitable long-term placement, such as adoption, is arranged.

The Research Behind Family-Based Care

The Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) Research Centre highlights the importance of placing children in family settings. Research shows:

• Children need natural love, nurture, and protection provided by families.
• For every 3 months spent in residential care, children lose one month of development.
• Children moved from residential to family care have been shown by research to gain development.
• Children in families have better growth, brain development and academic achievement.
• Children in families have healthier relationships throughout the lifespans.

Conclusion

The journey towards a Family-Based Care Model has begun at St. Dominic’s Children’s Home. With the support of stakeholders, Catholic organizations, and child welfare authorities, the Home is committed to ensuring that children grow up in loving families, where they can develop and thrive. By prioritizing family reintegration, kinship care, adoption, and foster care, St. Dominic’s is embracing a model that aligns with God’s original design for families—one that ensures children experience the love, security, and stability they need to flourish.