“Children best develop and thrive in safe, stable, and nurturing families" is a key phrase in WWO that expresses the heart of our aims. But those who are working to change the way we care for children know that the transition from children’s homes to family-based care can be challenging and often complex.
During this 3-hour online learning session, we will hear from others’ experiences of transitioning from children's homes to family-based care, including different models and training opportunities, and discuss ways we can approach the various challenges faced by caregivers and practitioners. This webinar is for anyone involved in the care of vulnerable children, whether you are actively involved in a transition to family-based care, or simply looking for inspiration and don’t know where to start.
The webinar will include:
- Philip Aspegren and Hazel Cedeño from Casa Viva, Costa Rica, sharing about the solutions they use when supporting children's homes to expand their care options to focus on family for the children.
- First-hand experience from Sylvain and Ruth Vergnon about an ongoing transitioning of children's homes in Albania.
- Time for Q&A
Speakers:
Philip Aspegren
Philip and his wife, Jill, pioneered caring for children in local families in Latin America when they co-founded Casa Viva in 2003. Casa Viva Costa Rica is a Christian child and family agency that provides family reunification, foster care, and adoption, working closely with Costa Rican churches and the government. Casa Viva Solutions hosts conferences and consults with children’s homes, governments, and churches around the world to help them develop and implement plans to successfully connect children to families. Previously, Philip and Jill directed orphanages for six years in the Dominican Republic. Philip worked at Tyndale House Publishers for nine years in the United States after graduating from Wheaton College. Philip and Jill have three sons and live in San José, Costa Rica.
Hazel Cedeño
Hazel is a professional in strategic planning, project management, and team building. In 2006, she made a career change and began to passionately serve vulnerable children, out of the firm conviction that God's plan for children and adolescents is for them to live under the care of a safe and loving family. Hazel worked as the director of a residential care center for nine years and managed the transition of its services to family-based care. She was also director of social action at her church, where she was responsible for four government homes for children, the foster care program, the MetAMORfosis program (for adolescents in residential care and those aging out of the orphanage by reaching age 18), and a mentoring program for children and adolescents from the residential center. Today, as director of Casa Viva Solutions for Latin America, Hazel seeks to motivate and equip governments, organizations, churches and various civil society groups that work with children and adolescents in vulnerable situations, so that they can implement family-based care solutions. Hazel is married and the mother of two daughters.
Sylvain and Ruth Vergnon
Sylvain and Ruth, originally from France, are the founders of AloMik!, an Albanian NGO inspired by Christian faith to serve vulnerable children and families. Sylvain serves as Executive Director and Ruth as Operations Manager. Sylvain`s heart was caught by children in need in Albania in the 1990s. In 1999, Sylvain discovered the hard reality of refugee camps during Kosovo war, and then progressively got involved with orphans and street children in Tirana. Over 18 years, his day-to-day engagement with a Roma community and extreme poverty challenged and enriched his worldview as well as its own journey. Trained as a primary school teacher, Ruth`s passion is for children and teaching. She has a master’s degree in Child Protection and is specializing in Childhood Trauma. She loves to facilitate training for those working with children in need.
Join the webinar on March 19th by registering below!