KIDSAVE INTERNATIONAL INC

INTERNATIONAL PERMANENCY PROGRAMS UKRAINEKIDSAVE BEGAN WORKING IN UKRAINE IN 2016 AS PART AS PART OF NATIONAL CHILD WELFARE REFORM EFFORTS. KIDSAVE IS ALSO A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE UKRAINE NATIONAL MENTORING ASSOCIATION, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2018 TO IMPLEMENT KIDSAVE'S PROGRAMS IN UKRAINE. DESPITE THE ONGOING WAR, KIDSAVE CONTINUE TO OPERATE TWO CORE KIDSAVE INITIATIVES OPERATE IN UKRAINE IN 2024: KIDSAVE'S PATHWAY TO SUCCESS PROGRAM - A CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL MENTORING AND CAREER-READINESS PROGRAM FOR OLDER YOUTH AGING OUT OF CARE; AND KIDSAVE'S FAMILY VISIT PROGRAM - HELPING PLACE OLDER ORPHANED AND ABANDONED CHILDREN FROM INSTITUTIONS TO FAMILY CARE. IN DECEMBER 2022 KIDSAVE OPENED A REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE IN UKRAINE AS A SUBDIVISION OF KIDSAVE INTERNATIONAL. THE OFFICE IS LOCATED AT THE KIDSAVE MIRACLES CENTER IN THE CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS IN WESTERN UKRAINE. PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION IS CARRIED OUT BY THE UKRAINE NATIONAL MENTORING ASSOCIATION (ANDM), A UKRAINIAN NGO CO-FOUNDED BY KIDSAVE IN 2018. KIDSAVE PROVIDES STAFF, TRAINING, FINANCIAL RESOURCES, AND OVERSIGHT TO SUPPORT ANDM IN DELIVERING ITS CORE FAMILY PLACEMENT AND MENTORING PROGRAMS. TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-NINE (279) TEENS PARTICIPATED IN PATHWAY TO SUCCESS, A CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL MENTORING PROGRAM FUNDED IN LARGE PART SINCE 2018 BY THE BOEING CORPORATION. IN 2024, ONE HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE (145) OF THE YOUTH IN THE PATHWAY TO SUCCESS PROGRAM PARTICIPATED IN THE "TAKING FLIGHT WITH BOEING" PROJECT, A YEAR-LONG MENTORING PROJECT WITH AIMED TO TEACH YOUTH ABOUT AVIATION, BUILD THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE AND RELATIONSHIP SKILLS. ONE HUNDRED FORTY-FOUR (144) BOEING EMPLOYEES TOOK PART ON THE PROJECT. KIDSAVE'S HUMANITARIAN INITIATIVE, ANGELS OF HOPE, DELIVERED 603 TONS OF AID IN 2024, REACHING OVER 21,000 PEOPLE. SINCE THE WAR BEGAN, 30,000 INDIVIDUALS, HALF OF THEM CHILDREN, WERE EVACUATED TO SAFETY. KIDSAVE ALSO SUPPORTED THE CHILDREN AND FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER IN MYKOLAIV, WHICH PROVIDED WEEKLY TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE TO MORE THAN 500 INTERNALLY DISPLACED CHILDREN AND THEIR MOTHERS.IN 2022 A KIDSAVE UKRAINIAN PARTNER ORGANIZATION RECEIVED A DONATION OF 4.5 ACRES OF LAND IN THE CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS, WHERE THE KIDSAVE MIRACLES CENTER WAS CONSTRUCTED. THE CENTER BECAME PARTIALLY OPERATIONAL IN JULY 2024, HOSTING ITS FIRST GROUP OF 43 WAR-AFFECTED CHILDREN. OF THOSE, 29 RECEIVED TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE AND 21 WERE PLACED IN PERMANENT FAMILIES. DURING THE WINTER HOLIDAYS, 21 CHILDREN FROM MYKOLAIV WERE HOSTED AT THE CENTER FOR THEIR SAFETY, RESULTING IN THE SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENT OF A SIBLING GROUP OF SIX. THE CENTER IS DESIGNED AS A MULTI-USE FACILITY WITH HOUSING, TRAINING AREAS, A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, AND RECREATIONAL SPACE. IN 2024, NINE TRAININGS WERE HELD AT THE KIDSAVE MIRACLES CENTER, AND TEN ADDITIONAL TRAININGS ON KIDSAVE MODEL PROGRAMS WERE HELD ACROSS OTHER REGIONS OF UKRAINE.IN JULY 2024 KIDSAVE'S CEO AND ANDM REPRESENTATIVES MET WITH NATIONAL AND REGIONAL UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO INTRODUCE KIDSAVE'S FAMILY PLACEMENT AND MENTORING MODELS. THIS RESULTED IN THE SIGNING OF A MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION WITH UKRAINE'S STATE CHILDREN'S SERVICES.COLOMBIAKIDSAVE'S FAMILY VISIT PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS TO PRIORITIZE FAMILY-BASED CARE. IN 2018, FUNDACIN APEGO, A COLOMBIAN NGO SUPPORTED BY KIDSAVE, BECAME INDEPENDENT FROM KIDSAVE AND HAS CONTINUED TO LEAD KIDSAVE'S FAMILY VISIT/SUPER AMIGOS AND MAMA MENTORA PROGRAMS. FUNDACIN APEGO SPECIALIZES IN PROTECTING CHILDREN'S RIGHTS AND SUPPORTING VULNERABLE FAMILIES TO PREVENT CHILD ABANDONMENT. KIDSAVE CONTINUES TO COLLABORATE BY OFFERING TRAINING AND SUPPORT, REINFORCING A SHARED COMMITMENT TO SECURING PERMANENT FAMILIES, MENTORSHIP, AND LIFE SKILLS FOR OLDER ORPHANED AND ABANDONED YOUTH. AFRICAIN SIERRA LEONE, KIDSAVE PARTNERS WITH INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES (IDI) TO TRANSITION CHILDREN OUT OF ORPHANAGES, WITH A FOCUS ON REUNIFICATION WITH KIN OR PLACEMENT WITH NEW FAMILIES WHEN KINSHIP CARE IS NOT POSSIBLE. KIDSAVE'S SIERRA LEONE PROGRAM MOVES CHILDREN OUT OF ORPHANAGES AND, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, REUNITES THEM WITH EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS (KIN). IDI IDENTIFIES FAMILIES THROUGH FAMILY TRACING, CASE MINING AND COMMUNITY EVENTS FOR OLDER ORPHANS WHO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE LIVING RELATIVES WHO COULD RAISE THEM. ONCE FAMILIES ARE FOUND, IDI MONITORS PLACEMENTS AND PROVIDES POST-PLACEMENT SUPPORT. MOST OF THE CHILDREN SERVED BY THE SIERRA LEONE PROGRAM LOST THEIR PARENTS DURING THE EBOLA OUTBREAK. IDI'S SERVICES INCLUDE FAMILY TRACING, CASE MINING, CAREGIVER TRAINING, AND MONITORING AT 1-, 3-, AND 6-MONTH INTERVALS. KIDSAVE ALSO PROVIDES CHILDREN WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND COVERS FEES WHEN NEEDED. IN 2024, TWO HUNDRED TEN (210) CHILDREN WERE PLACED WITH KIN OR NEW FAMILIES ACROSS 48 COMMUNITIES IN SIERRA LEONE AND ONE COMMUNITY IN LIBERIA. SEVEN HUNDRED (700) CAREGIVERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND STAKEHOLDERS WERE TRAINED IN CHILDREN'S RIGHTS AND CARE, AND HOW TO MONITOR AND PROTECT THEM. NINETY-EIGHT (98) INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED TRAINING IN CASE MONITORING AND REPORTING ON INSTANCES OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT. GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE PREVENTION CLUBS WERE ESTABLISHED IN 18 SCHOOLS. KIDSAVE PROVIDED FUNDING TO IDI TO MAKE REVOLVING MICRO-LOANS TO 84 FAMILIES WHO TOOK IN CHILDREN IN 2024. THESE MICRO-LOANS HELP SUPPORT THEIR SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENSURE THEIR FINANCIAL SECURITY AFTER TAKING IN A CHILD. LOAN REPAYMENT AT THE END OF 2024 WAS 98%, AND PROCEEDS FROM LOAN REPAYMENT WERE USED TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM TO HELP MORE FAMILIES. FAMILIES ALSO RECEIVED SCHOOL SUPPLIES, BEDDING, AND 50 KG OF RICE. SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 2010, KIDSAVE'S SIERRA LEONE PROGRAM HAS HELPED 1,580 CHILDREN FIND SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE HOMES.

WEEKEND MIRACLESKIDSAVE'S WEEKEND MIRACLES PROGRAM HELPS OLDER KIDS AND TEENS IN FOSTER CARE (AGES 9-18) FIND HOST FAMILIES, PERMANENT FAMILIES, AND ENDURING MENTORS. THESE CHILDREN HAVE OFTEN SPENT YEARS IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM, WITH LITTLE REALISTIC HOPE OF ADOPTION OR STABLE ADULT CONNECTION. WEEKEND MIRACLES PROVIDES THESE YOUTH WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE WILLING TO HOST, MENTOR, OR ADOPT THEM. AT THE CORE OF THE WEEKEND MIRACLES PROGRAM ARE MONTHLY INTERACTIVE EVENTS, WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO MAKE IT EASY AND FUN FOR OLDER CHILDREN AND TEENS IN FOSTER CARE TO MEET NEW PEOPLE. THIS APPROACH INCREASES ENGAGEMENT, BUILDS SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM, AND GIVES YOUTH AGENCY IN THEIR PERMANENCY JOURNEY. ONCE INTERESTED FAMILIES AND KIDS MEET AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AT KIDSAVE'S MONTHLY CONNECTION EVENTS, RELATIONSHIPS DEVELOP NATURALLY. YOUTH WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ADOPTION ARE MATCHED WITH HOST FAMILIES WHO EITHER HOPE TO ADOPT, OR WORK WITH KIDSAVE TO FIND FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ADOPTING AN OLDER CHILD. YOUTH WHO ARE NOT INTERESTED IN ADOPTION ARE MATCHED WITH A CARING HOST MENTOR WHO PROVIDES SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE. IN SOME CASES, HOST FAMILIES GO ON TO ADOPT THE CHILDREN THEY HOST, WHILE OTHERS SERVE AS CATALYSTS- SUPPORTING THE YOUTH AT EVENTS AND INTRODUCING THEM TO POTENTIAL ADOPTIVE FAMILIES WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. REGARDLESS OF THE PATH, THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF WEEKEND MIRACLES IS TO CREATE LASTING, SUPPORTIVE ADULT CONNECTIONS FOR OLDER YOUTH WHO ARE AT RISK OF AGING OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM WITHOUT A FAMILY. BY PROVIDING STRUCTURED OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO MEET ADULTS IN A NATURAL AND RELATIONAL SETTING, KIDSAVE REMOVES THE BARRIERS THAT OFTEN PREVENT OLDER YOUTH FROM FINDING PERMANENT HOMES OR COMMITTED MENTORS. LOS ANGELES COUNTYWEEKEND MIRACLES LOS ANGELES (WMLA) IS A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER 2005 BETWEEN KIDSAVE AND THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (DCFS). IN 2024 WMLA HOSTED MONTHLY CONNECTION EVENTS, SERVING 79 KIDS. SIXTY-NINE (69) OF THESE YOUTH ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN THE LOS ANGELES PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THIRTY-THREE (33) OF THE 69 (48%) YOUTH HAVE ACHIEVED LEGAL OR RELATIONAL PERMANENCY; 12 YOUTH (36%) ENTERED INTO AN ADOPTIVE MATCH; 3 YOUTH (9%) NOW HAVE LEGAL GUARDIANS; 6 YOUTH (18%) WERE REUNIFIED WITH BIOLOGICAL FAMILY AND 12 YOUTH (36%) WERE CONNECTED WITH A MENTOR. SINCE OCTOBER 2005 WHEN WMLA WAS LAUNCHED, 645 OLDER FOSTER YOUTH HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM. SEVENTY-ONE PERCENT (71%) OF THE FOSTER YOUTH WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN WMLA HAVE FOUND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES, DEVOTED MENTORS, OR LEGAL GUARDIANS. HOUSTONWEEKEND MIRACLES HOUSTON (WMH) HOSTED ITS FIRST CONNECTION EVENT IN OCTOBER 2020. SINCE THEN, 150 CHILDREN AND TEENS HAVE BEEN SERVED BY THIS PROGRAM. IN 2024 WMH SERVED 61 FOSTER YOUTH, 42 OF WHOM REMAINED ACTIVE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SIXTY PERCENT (60%) OF THE ACTIVE YOUTH WERE CONNECTED TO WEEKEND HOSTS, ADOPTIVE MATCHES, LEGAL GUARDIANS, OR NON-RELATED EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS. IN 2024, WMH HELD 15 IN-PERSON CONNECTION EVENTS. THE CHILDREN SERVED BY WMH IN 2024 COME FROM MORE THAN 19 COUNTIES ACROSS TEXAS, SPANNING EIGHT DFPS REGIONS. VIRGINIAIN 2024 KIDSAVE OFFICIALLY EXPANDED ITS WEEKEND MIRACLES PROGRAM INTO THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA. THANKS TO A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, KIDSAVE NOW SERVES OLDER YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE IN CENTRAL AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA. WE HELD OUR INAUGURAL EVENT IN SPOTSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA IN DECEMBER 2024, SERVING OUR FIRST TWO VIRGINIA FOSTER YOUTH AND THREE FAMILIES.