The Children’s Home

How it started

In 2002 the Hacienda of Hope children’s home began with a dream to provide a safe haven for children who were living in homes of abuse, neglect and abandonment. The home evolved in 2013 from a simple care facility to a foundation providing therapy, restoration, and healing to not just the children it receives but also to the families it serves. In this restructuring the foundation grew to fit the ever-rising needs of our community, including working with the families of the rescued children and working on reunifications, plus providing in-home therapy to families who are on the brink of breaking. We have now had over 120 kids come through the doors and receive care within the walls of the Hacienda of Hope and many more who have received in home therapy to prevent separation from taking place.

The Hacienda of Hope Children’s Home received their first children in 2002. The first years the project the goal was to protect the kids that were already in our care. In 2014, after a restructuring and better communication with Child Protective Services, the project grew to fit the ever-rising needs of our community, including working with the families of the rescued children and working on reunifications. We have now had over 120 kids come through the doors and receive care within the walls of the Hacienda of Hope.

What we do

When children suffer neglect, abuse, or abandonment from their family of origin, sometimes it is necessary to remove them from their house and family. In this case, the Hacienda of Hope jumps in and provides respite from the trauma and insecurity that these children have received. At the Hacienda, they receive loving care, three healthy meals (and snacks too) a day, and personal therapy to help them overcome their history. At the same time, the therapy team is also working with the family in order to restitute rights when possible. The therapy team works with the families three times a week in education, prevention, healing, and empowerment strategies to be able to place their kids back with them whenever possible. Around 50% of our cases have been able to be reunified with their families of origin. If we are unable to reunify a family, the child will have the opportunity to be adopted. In Ecuador, all adoptions are managed by the governmental adoption agency. To date, we have been able to unite 16 kids with their forever families. To watch a child meet their forever family and learn how to love new parents is one of the biggest joys of our job. If a child is too old to be adopted, or there is no adoptive family available, the child can stay at the Hacienda until he or she graduates. Then, they transition into our Preparation for Professional program, where they will choose to continue studying or look for employment opportunities. The goal of this program is to accompany these children until they are stable and on their feet in the real world. Inside the walls of the children’s home, you will find 4 houses each with a loving set of house parents that teach the children what it is like to live in a healthy home environment. The kids participate in education and schooling, after-school activities and sports, in-home devotionals, church activities, and intense therapy when needed. Children at the Hacienda find the love and support they need to be able to excel in their lives.

SUCCESS STORIES

Our first success story is about family reunification. Sandra is a little girl that came to us because her father was sexually molesting her. Her mother abandoned her with her maternal grandmother at an early age. However, her father had won custody and began to groom her sexually. The Child Protection Services took her out of her home and put her with us immediately. —The Hacienda therapeutic team that consists of counselors, case workers and house parents all worked together on a therapeutic plan for Sandra. Providing security, therapy and daily mentoring on how she can protect herself in the future.—- Upon investigating, we found an aunt and uncle that were willing to take care of her, along with her 4 natural-born kids. When we have followed-up with the case, Sandra often says that her aunt is her home now and doesn’t want to come back to the Hacienda. We miss her but hearing that makes us know that she has found where she belongs and a family that loves and protects her.

Our second success story belongs to Karen. Karen came to us after being abused both physically and verbally by her intellectually handicapped mother. When we received her, she was severely malnourished and struggling with self-esteem, even as a young toddler. She would hit herself constantly in the head calling herself a bad, bad girl. Within our facilities, our team worked with Karen to become both physically and emotionally healthy while our legal team fought to make her eligible for adoption. Finally, after a couple years, she was matched with her forever family- a family that understands her special needs and meets her where she is and pushes her to grow. In the year that they have been together, Karen has grown physically and, in her confidence, but she has also had once-in-alifetime experiences by travelling to 6 different countries this year! We are excited to watch from afar as she grows with a family who loves and cherishes her for who she is and who she will become.