Standards of Care

with compassion 4 kids international 

We have developed a standards of care for all orphanages that we will be involved. The following document is the same document that the orphanages receive for their guidelines and responsibilities in their operation of their facility whether it is small or large.

Below you will see the first two pages to the document. If you would like to see the full document, just write us an email and request it. If you are an orphanage and would like a copy of the full document for Standards of Care, email us at compassion4kids@compassion-4-kids-int.org. We will share our standards and you can adapt them to your area where you are.

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Standards of Care for Children’s Homes

Authored by:  Joseph A Burke

Standards of Care for the Children’s Homes supported by Compassion 4 Kids International have been established so that we can be assured that the children receive the best care possible. We expect the homes we support to keep these standards. However, we also realize that Compassion 4 Kids International has a part to play in helping you reach and maintain these standards. One key role for Compassion 4 Kids International is to provide administrative support in the area of research and referrals and thus help the home’s network with the appropriate agencies.

Glorifying God should always be the primary mission of the homes.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

1.         Process of Choosing Children

Although it is difficult to limit the number of children who can come into a Children’s  home some selections must be made in order to ensure the welfare of all the children. The home should be a place for those who are in real need and if there are too many children in the home for the number of "mothers", it means that the standard of care will be lower. Most importantly, God’s Kids wants to promote the importance of family life. We believe that as much as possible it is best for the child to stay with family as long as that environment is safe for the child. It is understandable those families who are poor will want to send a child to a home so that the child will have more materially and that there will be a smaller burden on the family. However, as long as the child is not at emotional or physical risk we feel that it is best for them that they stay with their family.

Staff shall use the following criteria to be the guidelines for acceptance of a child: (*obtain legal guardianship or the governing practice for the area.)

     1.            Orphaned with no living relative or legal guardian will take legal and parental control of the child.

     2.            Separated from their legal guardian without knowledge as to where they are.

     3.            Street child: no parent or legal guardian is able to be identified,

     4.            Street child: length of time on the streets is more than one week and guardians do not have parental control of the child.

     5.            Child in trouble with the law and the orphanage is given legal custody for a period of time dictated by the court system or until they are 18  and/or graduated from senior high school.

     6.            Parents are abusive.

     7.            Parents are unfit to care for the child (e.g. the parent(s) are chronically ill, handicapped, and unable to take care of the child, and/or addicted to drugs and/or alcohol.)

     8.            Other criteria may be considered and approved by the board of directors of the local board and confirmed by Compassion 4 Kids International, Inc.

“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14.

B.           Information about the Children

When a child arrives at a home the following information should be taken as soon as possible. This servies two purposes. This information will help you to decide whether or not the child should be accepted into the home. Also, if the child is taken into the home it is important to have records about each child.

     1.                  Name

     2.                  Birth date (or birth month and year or estimate and state if it is an estimate.)

     3.                  Names of parents whether alive or dead.

     4.                  OR Names of guardians.

     5.                  Parental History - - Last known address or village or town.

     6.                  Names and current location of any siblings.

     7.                  Names and current location of any relatives.

     8.                  Reason for applying to come to the home.

     9.                  Where did the child live the past 24 months in date/time order.

    10.              Were they being cared for by an institution or relative?

A report of all new children to the home shall be given to the board of directors monthly.

A report of all children shall be given to the board quarterly. This report shall contain the following information.

     1.                  Name

     2.                  Date of birth and age

     3.                  Sex

     4.                  School Grade

     5.                  Date admitted to home

     6.                  Total number of children

     7.                  Total number of boys and total number of girls

2.  Housing

A.     The Building

      1.       The buildings should be kept in good repair.

      2.         Eliminate all possible places where accidents could occur.

      3.         Roof should be leak free.

      4.         For younger children, child proof risk areas.

B.           Health and Safety

     1.        The building must have screens on all the windows. If this does not keep the mosquitoes out then other measures like mosquito nets must be used.

     2.        Enough blankets and warm clothing should be provided for cooler temperatures.

compassion4kids@compassion-4-kids-int.org