At myLIFEspeaks, we believe in bringing and keeping families together. Our goal is to provide programs and resources that encourage mothers and fathers to feel empowered and equipped to raise their children in their home as a family.
In a country where children are placed in orphanages because families can’t afford to raise them, we see our calling as working with these families to offer services that allow children to stay with their family members.
We have seen first hand the benefits of children staying in their homes with their family members rather than growing up in an institution. We work each day to provide a variety of effective programs and services that give children and their families the best opportunity to stay together.
Besides encouraging and empowering parents and providing resources so families can stay together, myLIFEspeaks also utilizes family-based care for special needs and typically developing children who have been orphaned or abandoned.
However, myLIFEspeaks is not an “orphanage” for children. Instead, we provide homes, called Family Homes, each with Haitian House Parents raising both special needs and typically developing children together. This model of family-based care is intended to provide a nurturing, supportive, and inclusive environment for children and families.
Family Home parents and caregivers are trained and supported, working as a team with teachers, medical care providers, therapists and other support staff at myLIFEspeaks. The special needs and typically developing children live fully integrated in their communities attending church, school and social functions.
Family Empowerment Programs and Services
-
Integrative Family Homes for children who have been orphaned or abandoned
-
Feeding Program for school aged children 5 days a week.
-
Feeding/Education/Pre-natal Care Program for pregnant and nursing mothers 5 days a week.
-
Infant Feeding Program/Educational Classes on caring for infants, also provides supplemental nutrition.
-
Educational, Feeding, and Mentoring programs for at-risk teens in the Redemption 72:14 Program.
-
Physical and Occupational Therapy for children and adults with disabilities in Neply and surrounding communities.
-
Special Education Classes for children with disabilities who do not have access to education.
-
LIFE Clinic that provides basic health care at low or no cost to children in our care and the people of Neply and surrounding communities.
-
"Bel Ewo"(Beautiful Hero) Biblically-based Parent Support Group for parents of children with special needs, led by parents in the community.
Why Family-Based Care?
An estimated 30,000 children live in orphanages in Haiti, created for a combination of complex reasons – poverty, extreme weather conditions, physical/intellectual disabilities, inadequate housing, lack of health and educations services, etc.
However, studies show 80% of these children are NOT actually orphans. Most children in Haitian orphanages have at least ONE living parent or relative nearby. Children are often relinquished in desperation or under false pretenses to orphanages who use them for profit.
More than 80 years of research explains the physical, social, and psychological harm caused by raising children in orphanages.
Family-based solutions reduce risk of abuse and trafficking while resulting in more positive outcomes for children.
With adequate physical, emotional, and spiritual support, at-risk families can be strengthened to prevent separation in the first place.
