When their biological parents cannot care for a child, SOS Children’s Villages in Ghana collaborates with the Department of Social Welfare and the community to innovate and assess other locally relevant care options that are most suitable for the child, using the strict gatekeeping system in place. Based on this principle SOS Children’s Villages in Ghana currently implements SOS Family Like Care, Foster Care, SOS Families in the Communities and Short-Term Care.

In order to ensure coherence of all programmes, the organization’s Alternative Care Programme has been aligned to the National Care Reform Initiative 

 

SOS Children’s Villages provides children with alternative care, where necessary, and where families of origin are not the best place for children to grow up.  

With strong and healthy relationships, each child and young person can grow up with the trust and sense of belonging that is essential for them to become their strongest selves. Our quality care puts their individual needs and best interests first, and provides them with a nurturing and stable family environment. If it is in the best interests for a child to return to their family of origin, we actively support this.

We promote and are guided by the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care for Children to which we made key contributions in the development process. In line with the guidelines, we draw on our wealth of experience to provide and support a range of alternative care settings, because different children, different cultures, and different situations call for different care options.  

Pillars of SOS Family Like Care: 

  • We provide care and education to equip each child to face life’s challenges in the future. 

  • We nurture a secure, loving and reliable relationship between the child and their parent or a primary caregiver. 

  • We work with community partners to develop strong social support systems for children and families to develop, grow and learn in a positive, supportive environment. 

  • We aim to provide the most appropriate care for each individual child. 

We take the side of children and young people.

Society's most vulnerable, especially the weakest need a strong partner - unconditional, passionate, courageous and all with emphasis. This determination is necessary and effective. We are committed to young people who cannot live with their parents as they are exposed to massive unequal treatment and we provide them with improved training opportunities after the end of compulsory schooling. Equal rights for all young people, no matter where they come from.

We know the needs of vulnerable children and young people all over the world. What children and young people lack most is attention, respect, and a home. They need someone who likes and supports them unconditionally. These basic needs are essential, and we guarantee them. We support young people with a lot of empathy and the expertise of our organization in children's residential groups. We create individual and sustainable care plans and strengthen their personality. The aim is to empower young people to lead independent lives with respect for themselves and others.