Children in Families is a non-government and non-profit organization started by a group of individuals concerned about the overuse of institutionalised care for orphaned children in Cambodia. CIF offers a unique model of care, facilitating family-based care placements to meet the needs of Cambodia's at-risk children.
The children being helped by CIF come from all over the country and are referred by local pastors, other non-profit organizations and human rights groups. They are infants or children who have been abandoned, neglected, abused, attempted to be trafficked, orphaned, institutionalised or relinquished by their birth mother. These children are placed in families to call their own. With support from trained social workers, CIF families give these children a sense of belonging, community as well as a unique expression of love, nurture and support.
Many young Cambodian women are in desperate situations. Some see abortion as the only option for their child’s future.
Others are tempted to sell their child to the highest bidder to make ends meet. CIF staff spend a lot of time counselling these women to consider alternative care options for their children. Many Cambodian children are placed in orphanage care as a result of their families’ poverty. CIF’s Kinship Care program works directly with these families, and their extended families, providing funds and solutions to help keep children at home.
CIF social workers also provide family counselling, teach parenting skills and good health and hygiene practices.
CIF has grown tremendously over the past five years. Children in Families supports over 100 children to be loved and raised in families in Cambodia. There is a large waiting list of children being referred to CIF for placement. It is our hope that as Development Accord grows we will be able to continue assisting CIF to development their services to meet these needs of these communities.
