Helping Children Grow Up In Loving Families

Thanks so much for standing with us through 2022. Recovery from over two years of the pandemic, with everything reopening and each family's needs changing, created a shift throughout our programs. 

We value permanency in loving families for children since this has been proven to be the best outcome for their development, attachment, and well-being. So, we are excited to share that CIF has assisted 13 families in domestic adoption, reintegrated one child, and placed several children into permanent foster families. That's in addition to supporting all other children and families in our Emergency Care, Foster Care, and Family of Origin as First Priority (FOR-1) programs. 

Each child and family we encounter is unique, with specific needs and challenges to overcome. This is why collaboration across our programs is vital to keeping children in families. Recently, our FOR-1 Program reintegrated Kosal*, a six-year-old boy, with his grandparents. 

Kosal's life began with tragedy. Giving birth prematurely, his mother died of blood loss en route to the hospital in Phnom Penh. Not even two kilograms in weight, Kosal required constant care. Overwhelmed, his extended family opted to leave the premature boy in the care of CIF. We immediately placed him in the capable hands of an Emergency Care family who nursed him to health. 

Once he was stable, our team met with his family, who felt they were ill-equipped to take him due to poverty and his health concerns. So instead, one of our loving Foster Care families raised him. Our ABLE Program monitored his growth and progress over the years since he had a medically complicated beginning. Through great love and care, he grew into a healthy, high-functioning child. 

Safe family reunification is a priority for CIF because it generally the best option for achieving permanency. Therefore, our staff continued communication with Kosal's grandmother over the years. 

This year, in close cooperation with the local government and the village leader, a family assessment was conducted to explore reintegration and safety. As a result, all stakeholders unanimously affirmed that Kosal could live with his family.

Before reintegration, CIF coordinated family reconnection while building the family's capacity through individualized training on child rights, protection, and positive parenting. Kosal enjoyed the first meeting with his grandparents and uncles. They showed him love and compassion. 

Kosal is now in his family of origin. His foster mother loved him profoundly and remained connected to his progress, and she is thankful that he continues to be loved and cared for. 

We usually share recent intake stories about children transitioning from difficult experiences into loving families, finding stability. However, we find closing cases and saying “Good-bye” to families can be just as exciting. Because when we finish a case, it is because children are either grown into young adulthood or they are in a stable, sustainable family situation who no longer need our support.  

Three years ago, we received a referral from a local police officer, who was also uncle of two girls. He contacted the authorities about concerns he had for his nieces. Nary and Narin lost their father to drowning, and their mother had gone to Thailand to find work. She had been gone for years. Extended family members had taken the girls in, but they were forced by those relatives to drop out of school and work for the family.  

After realizing what took place, their uncle and his wife decided to take the girls in, saving them from exploitation. However, the family had three children of their own and a meager income. That is when the uncle stepped up and spoke with local leaders. He wanted to do the right thing for the girls, yet he needed support.  

Through our Family of Origin as First Priority (FOR-1) program, we were able to help lift the financial burden of this family, so they could raise their nieces. The girls returned to school.  

In that time, they received regular visits from our social workers to monitor the quality of their care and ensure they were in a safe environment. We also helped train the family in child’s rights, hygiene, sanitation, healthy parenting skills, the importance of education, etc.  

The girls thrived, while the Aunty and Uncle grew in many aspects of their parenting.  

A few years later, the mother returned to the area with a new husband and baby. Narin wanted to live with her mother, while Nary remained content with her Aunty and Uncle’s family. Local community workers, alongside CIF’s staff, built relationships with the parents, evaluating home safety. The stepfather was kind and eager to learn, cooperating well with local authorities and CIF.  

Soon, Narin was back with her mother, stepfather, and baby brother, who were also growing and learning. One of the many training courses they received was working on improving their livelihood. Our social worker discussed a seasonal calendar for income: jobs, home, gardening, raising animals, etc. The family found raising chickens for meat and eggs contributed substantially to their monthly earnings. So, CIF gave them business start-up money to increase their flock for better outcomes.  

This past year, Nary happily transitioned back in to living with her mother as well.  

“Before I didn’t know how to care, support, and protect my children. I also did not pay attention to their study. However, things have gradually improved since I met CIF staff. The staff guided me to better parenting and protection of my children. They also encouraged me to follow up with my children’s education, providing support for them. My husband and I commit to support them until at least they complete grade 12,” the mother said. “I am so excited to reunite with my two children. I am able to take care of them and fulfil my role as a mother. I commit not to abandon my two children anymore in all circumstances.” 

Narin is in her final year of studies and turned eighteen this year. Her sister, Nary, still has a few years left at home. The local community workers and CIF staff recently determined the family is in a position of financial stability and positive, healthy growth, so they put together an exit strategy from our program.It is with joy we release this family to thrive.  

With some of their “chicken money” the parents were excited to save up and buy Narin a motorbike to get to school.  

Narin told us, “We [she and Nary] are comfortable and happy to be reunited with our mother. She and our new father take care of us. Thanks, CIF, for supporting us since we lived with Aunty until we moved in with Mother. CIF staff always helped us with self-protection and encouraged our parents to support us positively.”  

Guiding families in livelihood development, building capacity in families to protect and care for their children, teachinglife skillsto children, engaging local authorities in monitoring and well-being of children, and connecting families to government support services are the crucial aspects of CIF’s work and exit strategies for families.  

Not only is one more healthy and thriving family in Cambodia a very good thing, but it also means we can now help another family who needs support and strengthening. Because all children deserve to be in loving families.