Empowering Foster Girls and Teens in Puerto Rico

Greetings to all our Donors and thank you for your support.

Hogares Teresa Toda had a very busy Summer.  The closure of several group homes in Puerto Rico, after the implementation of the Family First Act, brought a flux of new participants to the Hogar making the organization to operate at full capacity and having to develop a waiting list.  All this in the mix of a Covid surge in the Island that impacted our population.  But not even the Covid stopped the operations.  Hogares Teresa Toda made an alliance with the Department of Health and the outbreak was successfully controlled following all needed protocols. No participant required hospitalization and services were not interrupted.

With the entrance of 10 new participants, the back-to-school preparation required a closer attention from the Case Management program as several psychological and psychosocial assessments were needed to assure the best placement in an education setting.  These assessments recommend the type of educational placement that best meet the individual needs of the participants.  Some of them required Special Education arrangements, others would benefit from a private school setting and others would be better attending public school. 

So, given the increment of new participants, great part of the Summer was dedicated to work on adjustment issues, many assessments, and Covid-19 mitigations.  There was no opportunity to send the girls to summer camp or for approved home visits due to a high positivity rate of Covid-19 in Puerto Rico; reason why an in-house recreation program was created.  During the Summer the participants enjoyed summer games, movies, art and craft and several outings. 

After all assessments were completed, 13 of 24 girls were recommended to attend private schools and 11 to attend public schools.  Some girls attending public schools would benefit from vocational services and others to open cases with the Special Education Program.  

Thanks to the support from donors like you, Hogares Teresa Toda has been able to buy all needed materials for the back to school and our participants had a great start for the school year 2022-2023.  

It is not news that the Omicron Variant from COVID-19 is taking a tow on the  public health worldwide.  Numbers of COVID-19 cases around the world are alarming and unfortunately keep growing.  Puerto Rico is not the exception.  Currently, Puerto Rico has a positivity rate of almost 40%.  The Municipality of Loiza, where Hogares Teresa Toda is located,  has a similar positivity rate. 

Hogares Teresa Toda (HTT) has not being exepmt from this Pandemic but the strong collaboration with our Community Partners has made the situation manageable.  Given the population that Hogares Teresa Toda serves, the Puerto Rico department of Health and his COVID Tracking System has assigned an Epidemiologist to our Program and several Testing Clinic has been perfomed on-site.  This has given the Institution the opportunity to identify and control positive cases within the organization.  The nursing personnel have been active and monitoring all participants and the facility is being desinfected periodically. 

The school is about to start.  Hogares Teresa Toda is ready to either start on a virtual mode or take the participants to school depending what will be the authorities recommendations.  

Even though this Chrsitmas were different, HTT had the opportunity to celebrate with the Girls, do movie nights and provide Chritsmas presents to all participants.  

HTT has been proven to be not only a great family but a community ally.  Steakholders have been working hand to hand with the Organization to grant the health of all participants and personnel.  This community partnership makes the stronger and keeps up the "Good Neoghbor Policy".

Thanks to all the donors and Community Partners that makes Hogares Teresa Toda a great Institution for the benefits of the persons served.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Links:

• Group Home for Girls