Better Future International believes that children benefit from living in a family environment. BFI utilizes a Family Care Model, a sustainable, holistic, community-centered, and child development-appropriate approach to raising orphaned children at the lowest possible cost. The model applies the concept of kinship care while supporting extended family members´ ability to provide care for orphaned children. It is complimentary to cultures in many countries.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Research shows that kinship, or "family care," results in better social, emotional, educational, and health outcomes for child wellbeing than institutional care. Unlike orphanages or other institutions, the family environment strengthens social and emotional networks by connecting the child to family, friends, neighbors, and the community. These relationships are conduits for the intergenerational transmission of knowledge and culture, which are essential for the successful transition into independent living as an adult. Orphans placed in family care are able to maintain their linguistic, cultural, religious, and family traditions. The family setting offers more security and stability for the child, is cost effective and requires less government intervention.

Utilizing a family care model, Better Future supports orphans living in family settings - with aunts, uncles, grandparents, or other suitable guardians. By strengthening the entire family structure these children can not only survive, but thrive. Based at local community centers in each community we serve, our programs are designed to:

• Facilitate the stability of households which have taken responsibility for raising an orphaned child.
• Ensure the provision of food, healthcare, and supplemental educational programs for orphaned children and their households.
• Provide school fees for each orphaned child enrolled in primary and secondary school.
• Improve nutrition among the children, increasing their capacity to perform in school, prevent illness and decrease the incidence of severe diseases.
• Improve the ability of caretakers to support all children living in their homes through support
• Provide physical and emotional support to orphaned children and their households as they work to overcome hardships. Enhance child development through diverse and quality programming both at the center and through local partnerships.

• Aims to break the cycle of poverty and create independence by requiring active participation of children and caregivers with accountability measures

  Most projects focus either on health OR education, but few combine education, health, nutrition and family support to develop the whole child and strengthen the whole family to provide the the best chances for success in life.

ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS

Participating families must demonstrate financial need and meet one eligibility criterion: custody of at least one biological orphan, with "orphan" defined as a child who has either lost both parents to death or has lost one parent to death and has been abandoned by the second parent.

Continued program participation is contingent on the following:

• The child must attend school regularly.
• The child must receive appropriate vaccinations and have an annual medical check-up.
• The caregivers must visit the community center to obtain the food that will in turn improve the health and nutrition of the child and family as a whole.
• The caregivers must participate in one workshop per month.
• The child and caregiver(s) must meet with the Program Director or Case Manager during monthly home visits.

Staff monitor these conditions by communicating with the child´s school to check attendance records and review academic performance; facilitating the process for children in the program to receive vaccinations at the appropriate age and annual medical check-ups; and tracking each family´s participation in home visits and community center activities.