Like an unexpected curveball, COVID-19 slammed our schools and residential homes, disrupting the lives of our children and the work of our staff and impacting every facet of Kids Alive ministry. The hardest-hit area was the abrupt separation of our school children from their caregivers – teachers and counselors. As the enormity of the crisis sank in, so did the compounded impact of the challenge of communication, as well as the fact that most of our children come from at-risk situations. Our teachers and counselors scrambled to break the impasse to ensure our children’s well-being. But in the heat of the moment, we probably didn’t realize that God had been steadily preparing us for such a time as this.
Several years ago, two Kids Alive school directors attending a conference filled out a survey questionnaire on emotional stresses faced by children. The list included lack of food, visible fights and violence, divorce, drug and alcohol abuse, no running water, and not enough beds to sleep in. It suddenly hit them that they had a whole school full of children who regularly experience trauma, and we (Kids Alive) had little know-how to help children overcome, survive, and begin to thrive under these circumstances.
Ever since then, Kids Alive has strategically invested in building up counseling to provide emotional support to children and youth, building trust and connection with our staff to help pull them through life’s daily challenges. In the last three years, all Kids Alive Dominican Republic staff have been trained in Trauma Competent Care and each of our seven schools now have at least one part-time psychologist and a counselor. In our residential sites, psychologists not only help children but also counsel house parents in techniques to help children self-regulate and build trusting relationships. Overall, we have built a team of 15 counselors, psychologists, and social workers to help over 2,000 children in our programs overcome their challenging circumstances.
Within days of the schools being shut, Kids Alive staff rose to the occasion. Taking the lead, Kaela Precourt, Director of Social/Emotional Care, along with her colleagues, began creating and dispersing weekly video clips via text messages and WhatsApp. These videos targeting parents and children were sent to the parents and community leaders’ cell phones.
Topics included:
How to connect emotionally with your child
Five strategies to help your student study well at home
Self-regulation techniques to help a child who is upset or is feeling anxious
The importance of making and maintaining a schedule during times of uncertainty or change
In addition, Kids Alive counselors have been reaching out to students with specific needs to provide targeted counseling. Currently, we are making plans for the new school year where we will be better positioned and equipped to address the emotional needs of our children and youth.
An interview with Kids Alive Counselor Domingo Germán, Specialist in Educational Psychology
What have been some of the biggest challenges during this time of the COVID-19 crisis?
Some of our biggest challenges currently are the inability to be close to our children and youth that we are caring for. We cannot visit and/or touch our family, friends, and fellow Christians (hugging and kissing on the cheek are customary cultural greetings) and must live carefully and follow protocols to avoid infecting ourselves or others. Other challenges include finding that a family member, friend, or a brother in Christ is sick or has lost a family member and not being able to support them with our presence.
Tell us about some of your concerns:
I am concerned about our children, they have had to spend so much time at home with their families, and some come from families that mistreat them. Some may not be getting enough food, and someone may harm them or make them do something that isn’t right. I am concerned that no one is talking with them about God.
What have you learned in your communication with children and their families?
I have heard that some of our children are anxious, disobedient, and aggressive, and some of the older students do not want to be at home or comply with established safety protocols. Anxiety and disobedience are common recurring themes. (Most communication is done over the internet via WhatsApp, and sometimes over a phone call.)
What are the greatest psychosocial needs currently?
The needs are many - they include emotional, spiritual, nutritional, and social needs. At Kids Alive we are addressing these needs by using available resources to respond to all cases that are brought to our attention. We try to help initially and then provide appropriate follow-up.
Would you share a story of someone you were able to help with managing COVID-19 related stress?
A 13-year-old girl was experiencing severe anxiety due to COVID-19 imposed quarantine restrictions since she could not connect with her friends nor visit her grandmother. She cried a lot, didn't eat, and spent a lot of time alone in her room.In the first session, I listened to her to find out why she felt this way. In the second, I tried to help her understand why she felt that way.
In the third session, I gave her and her family recommendations on how to reduce her anxiety levels. I recommended that she speak with her grandmother via WhatsApp. I also recommended that the family do joint activities, such as, make special and unusual meals, watch family movies and shows, and play board games. I recommended that the student download some books to read and do crafts by checking out video tutorials and using materials she has at home. Currently, I follow up with her to see how she is doing, and thank God she has learned to accept the situation and adjust to it.
Casa Monte Plata (CMP) is a refuge during this difficult time of COVID-19. Though the children and youth here are quarantined, they are secure with a supply of food and loving house parents. Teenagers and young adults from our independence project, Casa Ester, are also quarantined on campus and taking on roles as house moms, assistants, or educational tutors for younger children.
Most of the children express gratitude for the care they are receiving. Being quarantined in a home in a barrio without food and running water would have been far more challenging. Church, art activities, unstructured playtime, making new foods, and schoolwork fill the days of these children and youth.
Rosa* turned fifteen, the big coming of age birthday here, and even though the usual quincañera fiesta was not possible during quarantine, it was special. At the end of the day, Rosa contentedly recounted all the blessings she received, starting with breakfast, a surprise cake, a visit from her biological family, and blessings from her CMP siblings. And this month all CMP women dressed up for a special tea on the directors’ porch, complete with photos, worship, and a devotion.
The men successfully took on fixing the septic system under the guidance of former CMP resident Pablito, now a plumber.While the country remains under curfew, mandatory mask, and travel restrictions, our children were enjoying the space and surroundings of CMP, and Juana, our site director, is using her spare time to take better selfies, too!
The Ark is a refuge for at-risk children and youth, and even more so during this pandemic. Our kids have been quarantined with their house parents on the campus since March 19. Despite this, when surveyed, the vast majority express gratitude for their time together!
The lockdown has brought many challenges, and staff have had to be very creative to make sure everything gets done. Our older youth have stepped up to fill the service roles usually carried out by the support staff, including cooking, cleaning, and yard work. Many have spiritually matured during this time, and one was also baptized.Directors Fred and Kasandra O’Brien keep a healthy and active weekly schedule, including classes taught by house parents on the school campus, complete with PE and devotions.
Other activities include making new foods such as pizza, playing board games, and growing vegetables.Celebrated on the last Sunday of May, Mother’s Day was a hit with the moms who enjoyed gifts and special pizza. And one afternoon, God provided the entertainment in a powerful downpour complete with large hailstones!The country remains under curfew, mandatory mask use, and enforced travel restrictions.
