SOS Children's Village BC 3.94

We are the only SOS Children's Village in Canada.
We provide a sepa">The Village, our flagship program based in Surrey, was created as a grass roots response to the unmet needs of children and youth in the provincial foster care system; namely the frequent placement breakdowns and moves for children and youth in foster care, and the separation of siblings into different homes. The Village’s unique model is based on dynamics implemented by Hermann Gmeiner, the founder of SOS Children’s Villages International.

Our elements for success continue to be based on Gmeiner’s beliefs that a loving caregiver trained in caring for traumatized children, a family-like atmosphere (keeping siblings together), a consistent home with subsidized rent, and a community of support staff create a circle of healing, belonging, and positive growth for children in need. By establishing this circle of healing, children develop resilience and renewed hope leading to their future successes. The SOS BC continuum of service provides counselling, art therapy, neurofeedback training, and more to allow youth -- many of whom have mental health conditions -- to recover from their traumatic past. We also provide specialized support to Village Caregivers.

Our Village comprises 12 homes with 15 Caregivers, 40 children, and 5 youth in transition. We own and oversee 5 foster homes and a Village Centre on our wooded 2.5 acre campus site, with the other seven homes integrated in the surrounding geographic area. Through a $450,000 capital campaign from 2014-2017, we have built 5 much-needed transition suites for youth who age out of the foster care system at age 19.

SOS Children’s Village BC has been refining SOS International’s proven alternative model of care for over 20 years, within a BC context. It is based on lifelong engagement, and embracing the cultural heritage of each child. Our programs are trauma-informed. To provide this environment, we strive to offer four experiences to every individual who comes into contact with our services: a feeling of safety, relationships in which they feel they can trust, opportunities to collaborate and choose the services that they are involved in, and lastly help in building the skills necessary to move forward and function well on the daily basis.

Our outreach programs to foster children in the local community - including Transition to Adulthood, Learning Clubs, Sounds of Learning, and Camps/Recreation/Culture - reach an additional 400 children.