When potential host families hear that our teams are meeting new kids for our upcoming programs, of course there is a great sense of excitement to see the new children and to build anticipation for the arrivals of our children.
It is exciting for us to see the familiar faces as well as new ones - but always heartbreaking at the same time. These new precious children are still without the fundamental need - a family.
When inquiring about the children for hosting, I think it’s helpful to understand what an interview looks like:
- Children are pre-selected to meet with us. This happens in a few different ways through their caregivers in country, but they are specifically selected as candidates for the program.
- Our teams meet with caregivers, social workers, and/or orphanage directors. We ask about their behaviors, their living situation (how long in care in this orphanage or foster care - as well as any known information about their time of coming into care).
- We meet the children and spend a few minutes explaining the program
- It’s just a visit
- It’s an airplane ride to USA
- We have more children than families, but we will try to find a family for you to visit
- We ask them questions and try to get to know them. We gauge their interest in the program and try to learn about their interests, hopes, personality, and the type of family we feel they would do best with.
- Here are some of the questions we ask children and how the responses should be taken:
- Favorite Color
- Favorite Subject in School
- What kinds of foods do you like?
- What do you NOT like to eat?
- What do you like to do when you’re not at school?
- Favorite book/film
- Do you have a best friend? What makes them your best friend?
- How would your friends/siblings describe you?
- What makes you angry?
- Do you like animals? Have a favorite?
- What are you afraid of?
Many children in care struggle with a genuine sense of self, and so it is important to minimize expectations based off of a child’s bio. It should give you a general idea of the child’s personality and some strengths identified, but as with all children, sometimes their answers can vary day-by-day and this is simply a snapshot of each child we meet.
Stay tuned for our next blog, Beyond the Picture, which helps to walk families through the process of looking beyond a child’s photo when deciding to host.
To register to see our photolisting, please click here.
