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Building strong families

Together, we can prevent child separation through family strengthening 

 

Stronger families, safer children:
SOS Children’s Villages’ approach

At SOS, we know the best place for children to grow and thrive is with a safe, loving family.  

But families around the world are increasingly vulnerable. Poverty, armed conflict, climate-related disasters and other threats destabilize families, increasing the likelihood of a child being removed from the home—an intervention that can put children in danger of abuse, abandonment and exploitation. 

With holistic family strengthening programs, SOS delivers the training, guidance and resources families need to stay together and provide quality care and bright futures for their children.  

We work directly with vulnerable families to address the root causes of family separation and prevent the crisis before it occurs. Our locally staffed, community-based programs help families create stable, loving environments where children can thrive. 

Professional health care support

Mental and physical health care challenges can severely impact a parent’s ability to care for their children. When caregivers are unhealthy, children face increased risks of neglect, malnutrition, lack of education, exploitation and more, often leading to family separation. 

But when parents are healthy, they enjoy a higher quality of life that equips them to provide better care and support to their children. 

How we help parents and children:  

 

 

Help families stay healthy

 

Economic stability 

Poverty remains one of the leading causes of family separation.  

When parents can’t meet their children’s basic needs, their children are removed from their care or they make the heartbreaking decision to send their children to orphanages or relatives, believing it’s their only option for their child’s well-being. But family separation has long-term physical, emotional and mental developmental effects on children. 

How we help:  

• Provide vocational, entrepreneurship and skills training 
• Facilitate microloans and savings groups 
• Deliver business mentorship, resources and ongoing support 
• Provide safe child care centers so parents can work without leaving their children vulnerable and home alone 

Financial security removes barriers to children’s current care and future success, ensuring their parents can provide nutritious food, education materials and everything else children need to thrive.  

Support families' economic stability

Positive parenting

SOS’ positive parenting programs equip parents with the knowledge and skills they need to give their children the loving and supportive care they need to happily and healthily develop into their strongest selves.  

How we help:  

• Provide parenting workshops and support groups 
​• Teach age-appropriate child development, care and positive discipline techniques  

Gender equality 

Gender inequality undermines family stability and puts children at risk of separation. When women and girls face barriers to education, health care and economic opportunities, entire families become more vulnerable to poverty and separation.  

At SOS, we work relentlessly toward a more equitable world, where women and girls have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. 

How we help:  

• Prevent gender-based violence through prevention programs and initiatives
• Improve women's economic autonomy and stability 
• Promote positive masculinity; present & affectionate father involvement 
• Support equitable and respectful homes that alleviate mothers and girls of unbalanced domestic responsibilities  

Support this work

Migration and refugees

Families who are migrating, fleeing conflict or natural disasters face unique challenges and higher risks of family separation. During these movements, children are more likely to be separated from families and incredibly vulnerable to trafficking and abuse. 

How we help parents and children:  

 

 

Help families stay together

 

Education

Education is the key that unlocks children’s futures, and protects them from harm.  

By promoting access to quality education, SOS helps families send their children to school where they are protected from trafficking, child labor and other threats. With the foundation of education, children have the knowledge and opportunities they need to build a brighter, successful future. 

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Every child deserves a loving family 

Family strengthening programs don't just prevent today's separations—they create generational change by breaking cycles of poverty, building community resilience and ensuring children grow up in the loving environments they need to thrive. 

Join us in this critical work to keep families together and give every child the childhood they deserve. 

  Support this work   

Learn more about our work

 

Raising children in loving homes

Unlike the cold, clinical approach of institutional care—like orphanages or large group homes, where children face caregiver-to-child ratios as high as 31:1 and siblings are often separated—we provide individualized, trauma-informed care in family-like homes where siblings remain together. 

Emergency response

During crises, children face unimaginable challenges—enduring extreme distress that leaves them vulnerable to anxiety, PTSD and other mental health challenges. These crises disrupt their education, increases their likelihood of never finishing school and exposes them to life-threatening injuries.