Author: Florence

I am the founder of and consultant at Family-Based Solutions. I have started this website and this community, and I am the moderator. I have been involved in alternative care since 2007, having been involved up close in China, Brazil, India, Kenya and Myanmar. Initially I ran another NGO dedicated to improving the chance of survival and the quality of life of children in institutions, over time getting more and more involved with family-based alternatives and community services. In 2018 I folded the previous NGO and founded Family-Based Solutions. You can find more information on what I do now on the other pages of this website.

One Year On

Posted on September 2, 2019October 1, 2019 by Florence

About a year ago, the plan to start Why Family-Based Solutions was starting to unfold in my head. Though the website and the first blogs did not appear until later on in September, several weeks of thinking, planning and organising had already taken place by then.

As I was coming up to the point of living with Why Family-Based Solutions for a year, I have spent some time thinking again, this time about just what I want to accomplish with the organisation, what direction I want to take with it.

World Tourism Day

Posted on August 27, 2019August 8, 2019 by Florence

World Tourism Day, dedicated to an industry that helps people expand their horizons, and brings much needed money to areas that might not have many other means of getting it. However, there is also a dark side to the tourism industry. It has caused much harm, despite never intending to. Voluntourism is a perfect example of this.

Podcast Child Trafficking

Posted on August 19, 2019March 30, 2024 by Florence

In this podcast, a look at the reality and outcome of the vulnerability to trafficking of children who grow up in institutions. Seeing the statistics is unpleasant, but finding out what happened to someone you know is a whole different story.

Please share this to help raise awareness.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:26 — 14.1MB)

Subscribe: RSS

International Youth Day

Posted on August 12, 2019October 1, 2019 by Florence

In the context of alternative care and institutionalisation, it is important to take a moment to consider International Youth Day, and not just because a lot of teenagers are growing up in institutions. They are, and it is significant, and we will get to that, but there is more.

International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

Posted on August 9, 2019August 9, 2019 by Florence

Indigenous cultures continue to be more and more at risk of disappearing. For many decades, colonial powers have actively worked to try to wipe out indigenous languages and ways of life. Unfortunately, they have been quite effective at this. Although the tide has turned and the right to honour the indigenous cultures and languages and to live with them have finally been acknowledged, in many places there are few people left who are still familiar with them. So, it becomes a struggle to survive.

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

Posted on July 30, 2019July 30, 2019 by Florence

Unfortunately trafficking in people, and in children, is still big business, all around the world. There are practically no countries that are not a source, destination or transit country for child trafficking. This is something that needs to be tackled, and in order to be able to tackle it, we need to be aware of the problem. As well as of the fact that child trafficking is closely related to institutionalisation of children.

Rethinking Group Homes

Posted on July 22, 2019October 1, 2019 by Florence

For a long time, it was thought that if it was difficult to place a child with a foster family, placing him in a small group home was a suitable alternative. Group homes were seen as imitating families and where therefore expected to have a similar beneficial effect.

Over the past couple of years, experts have come back from this position, because there is too much evidence pointing in the opposite direction.

Podcast Education

Posted on July 15, 2019March 30, 2024 by Florence

In today’s podcast we look at the role that access to education plays in preventing institutionalisation. And also at what the promise of institutions to provide education may end up meaning.

The next podcast will be posted in five weeks.

Please share this to help spread awareness.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 17:50 — 16.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Supporting Young Adults After Foster Care

Posted on July 8, 2019July 8, 2019 by Florence

After looking at why it is important to continue to provide support of young adults who were in alternative care on their 18th birthday (HERE) two weeks ago. And looking at the kind of aftercare needed by young adults who grew up in institutions (HERE) last week. This week we are going to have a look at the options for young adults who grew up in foster care.

Supporting Young Adults After Institutionalisation

Posted on July 1, 2019October 1, 2019 by Florence

In last week’s blog, I described how the transition of being cared for as a child to living independently as an adult should happen gradually for young adults, in order to be successful. I also mentioned that unfortunately support for care leavers is often still lacking and young adults are left to fend for themselves once they reach the age of 18.

This week I want to talk about how to support young adults who have grown up in an institution, once they venture out into the world.