What is the Child Watch Visitation Program?

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE '1'0IMPROVE THE SYSTEM?A comprehensive child-serving system must be built. It mustbegin with preventive services to build resilience and" strengthenfamily functioDing, continue through intensive crisisintervention that seeks to preserve the family unit, and includea variety of options for caring for children in appropriate outof-homecare when that becomes necessary.As initial steps toward improving the system, the Districtgovernment must immediately: 1) develop a cadre of therapeuticfoster homes to care for the many children with special needs whorequire out-of-home care, and 2) hire additional social workersto reduce caseloads, and provide those workers with the trainingand supports necessary to appropriately respond to families incrisis.While some policy makers and others have raised thepossibility of "a return to orphanages" to address the currentgap between children's needs and available resources, such talkis dangerous to the best interests of children. These facilitiesseldom offer the specialized treatment, individual attention, andcontinuity of care that are so critical to a child's development.WHAT YOU CAN DOsupport from individuals and community groups -- along withthe reform of government policies -- is critical to helpingfamilies and children in crisis:ooooooBecome a mentor for an individual child in out-of-homecare to provide tutoring, friendship or enrichmentactivities;Work through community groups to recruit and supportfoster families;Volunteer to work for agencies that provide services tochildren in foster care or children in crisis, such asFor Love of Children (FLOC), Sasha Bruce/Youthworks,Martha's Table, and Grandma's House, or regularly visitwith infants and toddlers in residence at local hospitalsor emergency facilities like st. Ann's Home;Use your own professional skills (writing, accounting,legal, administrative, etc.) to assist an agency servingthese children;Work with others to establish a visitors center wherechildren in out-of-home care can be brought to visit withtheir parents; orAsk D.C. public officials to ensure that all vacant39