Branches

Solace for the Children, Jacksonville, FL
Email: infoJAX@solaceforthechildren.org

Solace for the Children: Los Angeles, South Bay
Email : infoLA@solaceforthechildren.org


Solace for the Children: Lake Norman, NC
Email: infoLKN@solaceforthechildren.org

Applications to host a child can be mailed to PO Box 5129, Mooresville, NC 28117.

If you are interested in helping to establish a Branch of Solace for the Children in your area, please contact info@solaceforthechildren.org.

Click here for a PDF of the FAQs

1. How many children are hosted within each Solace Community? How will translators/chaperones be assigned to work with the children?

Between 5 and 12 children may be assigned to a first year Solace for the Children Branch. Beginning in the second year that number can be increased up to a maximum of 25 children. Groups of fewer than 5 reduce the ability of Solace to build significant relationships among the Afghan children who are carefully chosen from a variety of ethnic and tribal origins in Afghanistan. Groups larger than 25 in a single Solace Community can make finding suitable venues and community sponsors for weekly activities too difficult.

Translators are assigned to each group of traveling children. For groups hosting 5 to 10 children, one translator would accompany the group to the final destination. With 11 to 20 children 2 translators could be assigned. Roughly, you could expect a 1:10 ratio depending on the nature and severity of the medical conditions. The Solace Branch Coordinator will also work within your Solace Community to identify volunteer translators.

2. Most children selected for the Solace Summer Program have specific medical issues. Is the intention that they should have medical treatment during the Solace Summer Program? Are you looking for each Solace Branch to partner with local medical professionals for surgical or diagnostic procedures as a standard part of the program?

Absolutely, yes! Solace children have some form of medical, dental or optical condition as part of the qualification process. These range from simple needs such as physical therapy, regaining a healthy dental status, or the need for prescription lenses, to very complex medical procedures that can require surgery. Partnering with the local medical professional community is a key to the success of the work of Solace. Following the Solace guidelines for reaching out to these men and women makes the task manageable and rewarding.

3. Does support of any kind continue after the children return to Afghanistan?

Solace Learn is currently in place to address the educational needs of Solace Alumni. This support varies with the individual needs of the child. For girls, the need can be safe transportation to and from school each day. All Solace Alumni benefit from the donations of adequate school supplies. In other cases, our children would be unable to begin or continue any form of education without financial support for teachers and course work. Finally, Solace Alumni have the opportunity to apply for a Solace Scholarship to begin college and fulfill a dream of a lifetime!

As Solace expands, we hope to address the overwhelming need for simple medical resources throughout Afghanistan. Our dream is to establish regional clinics supplied and staffed by Solace able to offer preventative steps to reduce the terrible suffering endured by these precious children.

4. Is a Solace child allowed to participate in more than one Summer Program?

Children are invited to return as long as there is a clear medical reason for his or her participation. With so many Afghan children qualified and eager to be a part of the Solace Summer Program, we encourage resources to be directed to the next needy child.

5. Are all faith communities eligible to participate in a Solace Local Branch?

Yes. While Solace for the Children was established as a humanitarian organization by Christians putting their faith into action, the mission is to Build Peace on a Foundation of Health. People who desire peace are found within all religions, cultures and traditions. Solace welcomes all who share our desire to bring healing and peace to the world!

6. Can you define the role of the national organization versus the role of the local organization? Are there any mandatory requirements or exclusions on local programs?

Major Responsibilities of National Solace:

• Provide working policies and procedures for operating a Local Solace Branch
• Conduct all international communication
• identify and select Solace children based upon official Solace guidelines and applications from Afghan families combined with Solace Community needs
• Arrange all transportation between Afghanistan and the American host community
• Complete all necessary documents related to insurance, passports and visa necessary for travel
• Set and monitor all standards of care and safety for the visiting children
• Recruit, train and support branch coordinators
• Maintain non-profit, tax exempt status umbrella under which branch groups can operate as an associate group
• Provide interpreters/chaperones based upon the number of children sponsored by the local Solace Branch
• Collaborate with Solace Branches to identify and write grants in support of the mission of Solace
• Produce template informational packets for potential medical professionals, volunteers, and host families
• Provide references and contacts for medical professionals, volunteers and host families that may be able to offer support or answer questions
• Produce recruitment/training material for Branch Host Families and promotional materials
• Coordinate and maintain follow up support as needed for Solace children as they return to Afghanistan - placement in English immersion classes, support for education, supplying orphanages and schools with basic needs, etc.
• Maintain a web presence
• Assist and support each branch through the unexpected events that can sometimes occur
• Monitor all Branch financial documentation as it relates to Solace for the Children

Major Responsibilities of the Solace Branch:

• Cooperate with Solace National to provide a safe and nurturing environment for each visiting young Afghan
• Using Solace National materials and guidelines, recruit and train host families and volunteers
• Speak with the local medical community about partnering with you to provide pro bono medical care (It's easier than you think! We have found our medical community to be very quietly generous)
• Coordinate interpreter's schedule according to Solace guidelines
• Coordinate one recreation activity per week to bring Solace families and children together
• Coordinate at least 4 team building sessions for Solace families and children during the 6 week program
• Fund the expense of identifying and transporting each child hosted within your local branch
• RETURN EACH CHILD AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM!

7. What is a breakdown of the 2011 expenses incurred to the point of arrival in the local Solace Community?

• Round trip airfare depending upon final destination - $2,000 and $2,500 per ticket
• An identification card is required before an Afghan can apply for a passport. Approximate cost - $100.
• Afghan families must travel to their province capital to apply for a passport. Most Afghan families would not be able to afford the travel and the cost of this passport application without help - $150 per child
• Travel Insurance is required - approximately $150 per child
• U.S. visa application fee - $141
• When it is time to apply for the U.S. visa, the child and at least one parent or guardian must travel to Kabul to apply in person and take part in an interview at the U.S. Embassy. Travel and room and board are needed - $50
• Expense related to Afghan Interpreters/Chaperones assigned to group is divided equally among all children traveling to the same Solace Community -- ranges between $400 and $800 per child
• Administrative cost within Afghanistan, including travel to interview families and coordinate the paperwork and medical record transfers. As you can imagine within a country at war, this is a dangerous process - $50 per child

8. Is the cost of bringing the children the only cost to a branch group from the national organization?

The sponsorship fees are required per child of the Local Branch. In addition, National Solace will invite each Branch to participate in the fall fundraiser enabling Solace to continue work in the following areas:

• Support the education needs of the Solace Alumni once they return to Afghan
• Offer children in an emergency or extended need medical situation the ability to participate in the Solace Extended Program
• Provide follow up medical assistance as available
• Provide for the support required on the ground in Afghanistan to maintain an official Solace for the Children presence

9. How are local branch voices carried into the national decision process?

Branch leaders are an important key to the continuous improvement Solace has experienced. Ideas are shared through planned virtual conferencing, written assessment tools and regular phone conferences. National representatives also visit Branch locations for face to face training, support and sharing of ideas.