Saying Goodbye – wayne centrone
Many of you have walked alongside us on this journey for years, supporting our mission to provide a safe and loving home for children in Ica, Perú. Today, we come to a turning point. With mixed emotions, we announce the closure of the Casa Girasoles Ica.
The decision to close the Casa Girasoles was challenging. We understand the deep connections many of you have with the children we serve. However, the landscape of child welfare in Ica is changing. Over the past decade, Perú has made significant strides in strengthening family support systems. The changes in child welfare services mean more children can now thrive in permanent, loving homes. The impact of this change in child welfare-focused programming at the Casa Girasoles is that our census of boys dropped to only three.
Transition Plan – While Casa Girasoles Ica will close, our commitment to the children of Ica remains unwavering. Here’s what this means:
- Smooth Transition: We are working closely with local authorities to ensure a smooth transition for each child. Our team will reunite every child with a secure, well-vetted family member or ensure we connect every boy with a safe, nurturing, forever-care setting.
- Ongoing Support: We will continue to provide support services to the children we’ve served, ensuring their well-being throughout this transition. We are retaining the social worker’s services from the Casa Girasoles to meet this objective. Lic. Norma will be a central point of contact for the children in Ica and the surrounding area. She will work closely with our team to ensure every boy can access ongoing support and services.
- A Brighter Future: We are proud to have contributed to shaping a future in which children in Ica have a greater chance of experiencing the love and security of a permanent family.
Looking Ahead – Our mission remains to champion children, families, and the communities that care for them. We will be focusing our efforts on the following:
- Family Support Programs: We will work to strengthen families through programs that promote parental education and economic empowerment.
- Connection: Sra. Esther and Sra. Sabino, the directors of the Casa Girasoles Ica program, have started their own NGO, Dios es mi Refugio. They plan to collaborate with their church and local authorities to serve their community. We will continue to guide the Girasoles Sanos Bike Team with Dios es mi Refugio.
- Child Welfare: The closing of the Casa Girasoles Ica does not mean HBI is fragile or in any degree of economic challenge or trouble. We are simply responding to the changes that have been occurring for quite some time now: an inability to secure property, a smaller census, an older set of boys in the community, and staff with desires to retire. We will continue to operate the Casa Girasoles Urubamba program unchanged.
- Advocacy: We will continue advocating for policies prioritizing family preservation and reunification.
We know this news may be difficult to hear. However, we hope you’ll join us in celebrating the incredible progress made in Ica’s child welfare system. Together, we’ve helped create a future where children have more opportunities to thrive in permanent, loving homes.
Don’t hesitate to contact me directly if you have any questions. We are committed to transparency. Thank you for your unwavering support.
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