Acres Of Love Inc
PROGRAMS
Emergency Medical and Special Needs Program
This program exists to offer our children the very best extra medical care. This extra care includes surgeries, hospital stays, early intervention therapies, one-to-one caregivers when needed, customized wheelchairs, limb braces, hearing aids, special education, and everything needed for a child to thrive.
OUTCOME: Children with disabilities will thrive
1. Each child will attend regular medical visits
2. Each child will receive an Individualized development plan (IDP) withing 3 months of arriving to care
3. Each child will be assessed for early intervention therapies
4. Each vulnerable infant and toddler will receive extra therapeutic care (physical, occupational, speech)
Forever Family Homes
We currently operate 40 Forever Family Homes in suburban neighborhoods throughout Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa. Each welcomes children who have been orphaned or abandoned. Each of our single family homes have long-term, full-time, committed House Parents who offer the very best family care. When a child enters our care, they receive an Individualized Development Plan (IDP) to create a roadmap for medical, educational, emotional, and nutritional success for their unique needs.
OUTCOME: Children will have permanence and safety until self-sufficient adulthood, adoption, or family reunification
1. Each child will be admitted based on DSD agreements
2. Each child will have continuity of care
3. Each child will be welcomed into a home that is accessible for their specific needs
4. Each child will have their own bed, clothing, personal items, and closet space
Education Program
With more than 200 children, many can attend local public schools. However, due to learning challenges, many require smaller class sizes and private school options. We also have a growing number of children who are looking to attend local colleges, trade schools, and universities to gain skills needed to join the South African workforce.
OUTCOME: Children will learn in a way that makes sense to them
1. Each child will receive an individual education plan for success
2. Each child will attend a school chosen for their needs and strengths
3. Each student will pursue and receive secondary school diploma or GED equivalent (unless extraordinary cognitive impairment prohibit)
Launching Fund
As we continue to launch young adults into self-sufficient adulthood, we want to offer them the love and support of family. While South Africa releases children from care at 18 years old, we understand that a set age of adulthood doesn’t recognize the uniqueness of each child. It doesn’t consider the trauma, educational gaps, or developmental delays they may have experienced before coming to our care. Because of this, we work to see each child uniquely as we help them launch at a pace that works for them. Through our launch transition plan, we empower our young adults as we help them learn to secure stable employment, save money and use a bank account, pay monthly rent, navigate transport to and from work, cook healthy meals, thrive on their own and build a network of support. We have built intentional structure to help them maintain family connections and relationships. We know that experienced loss, trauma, and abandonment can create vulnerability for young adults, and we work to scaffold them with rhythms of connection. We have regular extended family events that our young adults continue to join, as well as special family holidays and birthday celebrations. We want our adults to understand that they will always be a part of our Acres of Love family, and that their connection to family remains long after they launch. Our launch fund is set up to meet tangible needs to support our young adults as they become self-sufficient members of their communities. While most of our young adults will launch, our young adults living with special needs require a slower launch or will remain with us throughout their lifetime. To best serve them we operate a Special Needs Advancement Center in Cape Town and our Indlu Yami Forever Home in Johannesburg. At these Forever Homes, our focus is on mentorship, quality of life, engagement with community resources, and family structure.
OUTCOME: Self-sufficient adulthood
1. Students will be enrolled in university, trade, or apprenticeship programs after secondary school
2. Young adults will complete an agreed upon 3 stage launch program
3. Young adults will be assisted with furnishing apartments
4. Young adults will have access to transport for employment
5. Young adults will be included in ongoing Acres family events to maintain family connections
6. Young Adults will be invited to continue healthy family relationships with their Acres parents and siblings as desired
Nutrition Program
We know that offering nutrient-rich meals that are filled with produce help our children thrive. Many have experienced past malnutrition before coming to Acres of Love. Others have medical needs that require healthy diets for our children to respond well to medical treatments. Our house parents are committed to offering three healthy meals each day for our children. Currently we are feeding three wholesome meals each day to more than 200 children and 80 house parents.
OUTCOME: Children will recover from malnutrition and be offered nutrient rich foods to help them grow
1. Each infant will be offered personalized formulas that help combat malnutrition
2. Each child will receive three nutritious meals and snacks each day
3. Each older child and teenager will be taught kitchen safety and cooking skills to build healthy lifestyles and prepare for independent living
CONTACT
Acres Of Love Inc
31920 Del Obispo St STE 175
San Juan Capistrano, California 92675