Fostering restoration : the impact of love and second families in residential care

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Jones, Rachel L. and Obenque, Rose Ann (2016) Fostering restoration : the impact of love and second families in residential care. Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care, 15 (3). ISSN 1478-1840

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Abstract

My Refuge House Ministry (MRH), a shelter for survivors of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) and abuse in the Philippines, functioned under a Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy approach when it was founded in 2009. However, an assessment of their programmes in 2014 found that the girls felt uncomfortable with the counseling approach and trapped by the staff and shelter guidelines. As a result, MRH underwent a complete restructuring of their program in August of 2014, moving from a clinically focused approach to a strengths-based one, which was more culturally appropriate for the girls and staff members. Since its restructuring, MRH has developed a family-like environment between staff and girls, drawing upon their Filipino culture and way of life. The results have seen mutual growth in relationships between staff and girls and an increased level of respect between both parties. MRH has created a second family by advocating for a loving and caring atmosphere, which they believe to be the foundation for any healing environment. This paper describes why MRH operates from this approach, how this approach has been implemented, and the differences observed in the staff and girls since its introduction.

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