| Frequently Asked
Questions |
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Who came up with the idea for the
Children’s Village of Sonoma County and why?
Lia Rowley, with 25 years of professional experience working with children
and their families, saw that the needs of neglected children were not
being met. She envisioned a village which would provide loving homes for
these children and which would give them stability and a sense of belonging.
When Georgia Moses was found murdered by the side of the freeway in Petaluma,
Lia was moved to forge ahead and organized others to join her in the effort
to create the Village.
What is The
Children’s Village of Sonoma County all about?
The Children’s Village of Sonoma County is a community that
provides nurturing family homes in a multi-generational, enriched environment
for children and their siblings in foster care. When completely built,
it will consist of 8 six-bedroom homes with trained “village parents”
who will create the feeling of family for the children. And it will have
six apartments for seniors who will be “grandparents” to the
children giving them additional nurturing and care. There is a team of
trained staff and volunteers who run programs to meet the emotional, educational,
social and recreational needs of the children.
How is this different from foster
care?
One of the priorities of the Village is to accept sibling groups so brothers
and sisters can grow up together. In regular foster care, 67% of sibling
groups entering the program are separated and have to be sent to different
foster homes.
Village parents are supervised and supported as they meet the challenge
of rearing children that are insecure, anxious, fearful and sometimes
resentful. They are part of a team that will meet once a week with clinical
staff. In the more traditional foster care model, the foster parent must
depend for support and oversight on an overworked social worker who has
time primarily for emergencies.
Children living in the Village will not suffer the anxiety of having
their placement terminated because the foster parents want them to move
on. They will be secure in the knowledge that this is their “home”.
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is this Village so important?
The challenges that children in foster care face often lead to serious
feelings of insecurity, anxiety, fearfulness and hostility and these in
turn lead to serious problems in adulthood. Within four years of leaving
foster care: 25% are homeless; 50% are unemployed; 40% are on public assistance.
The Village’s innovative
model is working to give children secure and happy childhoods so that
they will grow up to be emotionally healthy adults equipped to lead productive
lives.
Where is The Village located
and when will construction be completed?
It is located on 2.2 acres, 1315 Kawana Terrace Road (now Lia Lane) in
SE Santa Rosa, California.
Phase I, consisted of four houses and three senior apartments, has been
completed and celebrated its grand opening on August 24, 2006 and we
celebrate our second year of operations in August 2008. Construction
is continuing.
Where will the children come from?
All children coming to the Children’s Village will be referred by
the Department of Social Services and will come from the foster care system.
Why have these children not been
adopted?
Parental rights may not have been terminated.
Adoptive parents prefer to adopt young children generally under age 3.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to find adoptive parents willing to
accept children with serious behavioral or emotional problems. Cases of
traumatic backgrounds and histories of various abuses also make adoptive
parents wary of adopting.
Where will “Village Parents”
come from and what training will they receive?
Full-time, live-in Village Parents are recruited locally, statewide, and
if need be, nationally. They receive training in all aspects of parenting
and special issues related to the special needs of these children. Training
also includes building positive relationships and fostering emotional
growth and independence for the children in their care.
back to top Do the
“Village Parents” have to be married and are they allowed
to work outside the home?
Full-time, live-in Village Parents are recruited locally, statewide, and
if need be, nationally. They receive training in all aspects of parenting
and special issues related to the special needs of these children. Training
also includes building positive relationships and fostering emotional
growth and independence for the children in their care.
The Children’s Village of Sonoma County would
prefer to staff the homes with married couples. However, single parents
are always an option. If they are single, they are considered a full-time
parent and their job is solely the care and proper raising of the children.
In the case of married couples, one parent is designated to be the “stay-at-home”
parent, while the other is able to work full time outside the home.
What is the role of the “Associate
Parents”?
Associate Parents live off-site, unlike the Village Parents. They assist
the parents in carrying out the daily duties required to care for the
children or to care for them during the Village Parents’ absence.
Where will the “Village Grandparents”
come from and what is their role?
They are recruited locally and chosen for their experience and love of
children. They live in the Village apartments and commit to volunteer
time with the children. They are available to read, play, share special
skills with the children and serve as mentors. As the seniors in the Village,
they provide the important inter-generational component of the Village’s
innovative model.
How long do the children stay in
the Village?
The children will stay until age eighteen unless, in rare cases, they
are reunified with their parents or adopted. The Village staff work with
children to develop life skills so they will be comfortable and competent
to leave at the age of eighteen. However, we recognize that some children
may need more time before they are fully ready to leave home, and special
programs may be designed for those children that provide ongoing support.
back to top How
will family bonds be formed?
Each home functions as a regular family unit: siblings around the dinner
table together; each member participating in housework. Each family will
have their own set of experiences. Family photos and children’s
artwork are unique to each family.
How are community bonds formed?
When fully operating, the Children’s Village of
Sonoma County
will have eight families living in a neighborhood of single family homes.
Though the families will be independent, they will have activities together
and support each other. They will make up the village community. Bonds
with the greater community will be formed because the children attend
local schools. They will participate in youth activities outside the
Village especially in sports. The goal is to give the children as normal
a life as possible.
Are there any other villages in
California?
No. While there are other “villages “ with similar models
as this throughout the world, there are only a few similar to it in the
United States: the SOS villages in Florida and Illinois.
How will the
Children’s Village of
Sonoma County be funded?
The funds to operate the Village will come from: 75% from the foster care
system and 25% from grants and private donations. The
funds to build the Village are coming solely from private donations and
grants.
What is Joe and Jennifer Montana’s
role in this and why did they choose to become involved?
The Montanas are honorary co-chairmen of the Capital Campaign. They act
as spokespersons for the Village, produce public service announcement
for radio and television, and assist with fundraising events. Their reason
for volunteering to help is epitomized in this quote from Joe Montana:
“How can you deny these kids the simple little things in life that
we all take for granted on a day-to-day basis? Family, love, and a safe
place to live. For us, that’s what it’s about, the kids”
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