Cherishing Our Children - The Villages

3
~ The Cherished Work of The Villages ~
The Villages’ Programs
Adoption
Adoption offers a child a chance at a new beginning — providing that child with hope, love and
a forever family. The Villages offers private, international and special needs adoptions. We provide
preparation, education, placement and support throughout the adoption journey. Last year, over 100
children were successfully matched with their forever family.
Therapeutic Foster Care
In 2007, 797 foster children were removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect and placed
in a nurturing and loving home through The Villages. More than 360 foster families have received
specialized training to help them provide a safe haven for children to receive care.
Kinship Care
The Villages’ Family Connection Network, supporting grandparents and kinship caregivers, empowers
families to achieve a stable, positive family experience that will best allow children to reach their
full potential. In the past year, 60 family members provided love, care and protection to 142 children
through The Villages’ Kinship Care program.
Healthy Families
More than 2,810 families voluntarily participated in Healthy Families in the past year. They received
quality care and services from The Villages to help expectant and new parents strengthen parent-child
relationships in their child’s early years. Healthy Families strives to achieve positive parenting.
Family Services and Community Partners
In 2007, The Villages touched the lives of more than 350 children and families through counseling,
education, mentoring and support services. Together, with loving families who have dedicated
themselves to making life changes, The Villages is strengthening individuals, families and communities.
Transitional Living
Crossing the bridge to adulthood is an intimidating path for young people. Through its Transitional
Living and Pathway programs, The Villages helped 75 youth with the greatest opportunities to
become independent, productive members in our society. These young adults received life skills
training in a community-based living environment, which will help them in a successful transition to
self-sufficient living.
Children’s Village Child Development and Education Centers
Children are our most precious possession — and society’s most precious resource. It is for that reason
that The Villages continues to provide quality, accredited child care and early childhood development
services through our Children’s Village locations in Indianapolis and Bloomington. Four hundred fortyeight
children, from six-weeks-old to kindergarten age, received emotional, intellectual and physical
growth through The Villages during 2007.
Prevent Child Abuse Indiana
Prevent Child Abuse Indiana (PCAI) works diligently to reduce family stress, improve family
functioning and increase knowledge about parenting and self-protection in order to reduce the risk of
child abuse. In 2007, PCAI distributed awareness materials, provided training and offered education
about child abuse prevention to 3,000 adults and 2,000 youth in 92 Indiana counties.