1996 onwards……. In Partnership with HOH since 1999 VISION: To regenerate the rhythm of life of the disadvantaged MISSIO

1. 1996 onwards……. In Partnership with HOH since 1999 VISION: To regenerate the rhythm of life of the disadvantaged MISSION: For every child a home and education, for every adult the dignity of self-reliance and the desire to give back to society

2. OBJECTIVES: To enable people of vision to join hands, set up and manage LIFE (Living in Family Environment) Udayan Ghars through a strategy called ‘Group Foster Care’. To create a residential environment for orphaned, abandoned and abused children, promoting physical and mental health, social integration, a sense of belonging, hence, enabling them to experience the “Joy of Living”. To educate the children in the best tradition of learning, unfolding their innate potential and allowing them to evolve from being a non-entity to an eternal winner. To inculcate human values which enable them to make apositive difference when they assume their places in the society. To mainstream such children within the society by encouraging community participation. UDAYAN GHARS- A Dream Project

3. UDAYAN CARE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OBJECTIVE: To foster positive mental health in orphan children in all Udayan Ghars. To promote emotional and social well being through early identification and treatment of psychological and behavioral problems. To accelerate academic achievements, vocational training and a bright future. Nancy & Manisha

4. The Need for Mental Health Program • Experiences of being Orphaned/ Abandoned/ Lost • A Past full of utter Deprivation and Poverty • Street History and Mixed Experiences • Trauma Issues: Physical, Sexual & Emotional • Lack of Trust & Incapability to Bond • Lack of Basic Life & Social Skills • Lack of Communication Skills • Huge Need for Behavioral Modification • Need to get Literate & Develop a Positive Attitude towards self and others.

5. Genesis of a Relationship HOH is the fulcrum of the Udayan Care Mental Health Program. 13 years ago, when Child Welfare Officials did not fully appreciate the importance of a Mental Health Program for orphan, abandoned and abused children, HOH DID! …And financially supported the Udayan Care program. This support continues…..

6. Home Of Hope Makes it Possible Meeting expenditure of the Mental Health Program Involvement of Mental Health and Child Protection professionals Regular and timely Counseling/ Psychological and Psychiatric interventions Legal Compliances and Documentation Capacity Building of Mentors, volunteers, Program staff and children on trauma issues, Para counseling skills & more I.Q. and Anxiety Tests Improved mental state and better adjustment of 109* Udayan Care children residing in 6 Children’s Homes *total 130 children residing in 9 Homes

7. Some milestones • Udayan Care was a member of the Core Group that lobbied for a dynamic mental health program in all child welfare institutions. This was done in a leadership role with QIC&AC (Quality Institutional Care & Alternatives for Children), a confederation of over 30 Not for Profit Volunteer organizations in Delhi. • The lobbying bore fruit and in 2007 was incorporated into the Law HOH played an indirect role in it. • Government estimates 100,000 homeless children on the streets of New Delhi alone. Actual s are double that number. • Thus, quality Group Foster Care homes… like Udayan Care are essential.

8. Societal Dropouts to Eternal Winners : A Result of Home Of Hope Intervention

9. Success Stories Monica Udayan: Orphaned and abused, she took care of her 2 siblings by working as a maid servant. After coming to Udayan Care Home at Sant Nagar, she was counseled on a regular basis and was able to complete her schooling. She completed a course in Computers and took up teaching at one of the Computer Learning Centers of Udayan Centre. Now she is preparing to work in Holland as au pair. Kiran Udayan: Left alone at the age of 5, after her mother’s death, she was brought to Udayan Care Home at Sant Nagar. Devastated by her loss, she had to undergo counseling sessions along with her studies. She has now completed Class XII and is pursuing Graduation in Hotel Management from RIG Institute of Hospitality and Management. Amit Udayan: Orphaned at the age of 12 years, he came to Udayan Care along with his 2 siblings, at the Mayur Vihar Home. He was counseled regularly for 6 years as he completed a course in health care. Thereafter, he underwent internship in a reputed hospital and has now joined there as a regular employee. Now, he has been promoted to the post of a Sr. Attendant at the Intensive Care Unit.

10. Ruchi Udayan: After her mother’s death, she and her 2 younger siblings were abandoned by their father. On reaching Udayan Care, Ruchi had to undergo a few counseling sessions at her Greater Noida Home before she could complete her schooling from Delhi Public School. She is now undergoing a degree course in RIG Institute of Hospitality and Management. Pinki Biswas:Orphaned and abused in the hands of her uncle, Pinki reached Udayan Care, Greater Noida Home in a state of shock. It was only because of the Mental Health intervention that she could regain her lost spirit. Thereafter, she completed Class XII from Delhi Public School and is now undergoing a course in Airhostess Training. Sunita Udayan:Lost at the age of 9 years, Sunitacame to Udayan Care Sant Nagar Home, totally traumatized.She was counseled and steered into studies. By the time she completed her schooling, her family was also located and she was restored.Although Sunita returned to her home, her zest for studies encouraged her to reach Udayan Care again and ask for help. She has recently appeared for Class XII Boards and has joined one of the leading fashion houses in Delhi.

11. On The Path of Success.....

12. Progress of Children Under Observation Case 1 Name : Deepak Udayan Current Age : 14 years Current Class : VIII Udayan Ghar : Home 5 (Gurgaon) Reason for Referral : Fidgety, restless, cannot sit still for long, impulsive, impatient, disturbs other children, poor concentration, easily distracted, forgetful, makes careless mistakes Diagnosis : A possible diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was made for which he started medication in April 2007, along with Behavior modification and Self Instructional Therapy. Success : Over the time there was significant improvement with no side- effects of the medication. After a year of medication his medication was stopped in March 2008. On last review at home, in December 2008, there has been significant improvement in his behavior as well as great improvement in academics.

13. Case 2 Name : Rita Udayan Age : 17 years Class : VI Ghar : Mehrauli, Home No. III Diagnosis : She was diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Medication : She was prescribed medication for PTSD which has been stopped now though she is still under the supervision of Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist Case History : Rita has a traumatic experience of seeing her mother burnt alive in front of her eyes and was used as an eye witness by the police in the case. Mental Health :She needs a regular psychological intervention as there is a lot of trauma smoldering inside her. She used to chew on her knuckles as in such a tender age, she had to go through a lot of trauma and mental torture. Her Success : During her stay at Udayan Care, Rita has improved drastically. Now, she has stopped chewing her knuckles, eats healthy and sleeps well. She is also improving on her personal hygiene. She is pleasing and good to everybody. Once shy and quite, now she is slowly shedding her fears and coming out of her shell.

14. Need for Continuity of Mental Health Program • Regular Counseling; A Necessity • Psychological Tests; A Requirement • Induction Anxiety; A Challenge • Adolescence Phase; An Experience • Legal Protection; A Right • Capacity Building; A Prerequisite • Continuous Support; A Phenomenon Mamta & Amulya

15. Udayan Care aspires…. • To open 2 more Children’s Homes by 2010 • To cater to the needs of at least 178 children by 2010 • To facilitate the growth of a healthy mind with the help of the Mental Health Program • To envision Mental Health Program on the national agenda

16. THANK YOU! www.udayancare.org

17. Mental Health: A Statutory Requirement as per section 46 of Juvenile Justice Act 2000 and amended in 2007 • A mental health record of every juvenile or child shall be maintained by the concerned institutions. • Creating an enabling environment for children and individual therapy are must for every child and shall be provided in all institutions. • Ensure that each child’s abilities are discovered and they have choices and rights to take to decisions regarding their life and thus develop and identify beyond their negative experiences • The environment in an institution shall be free from abuse, allowing juveniles or children to cope with their situation and regain confidence.

18. All persons involved in taking care of the juveniles or children in an institution shall participate in facilitating an enabling environment and work in collaboration with the therapists. • Individual therapy is a specialized process and each institution shall make provisions for it as a critical mental health intervention. • Every institution shall have the services of trained counselors or collaboration with external agencies such as child guidance centers, psychology and psychiatric departments or similar government and non-governmental agencies, for specialized and regular individual therapy • A mental health care plan shall be developed for every juvenile or child by the child welfare officers in consultation with mental health experts associated with the institution and integrated into the individual care plan of the concerned juvenile or child.

19. The recommendations of mental health experts shall be maintained in every case file and integrated into the care plan for every child. • All care plans shall be produced before the Management Committee set up under rule 55 every month and before the Child Welfare Committee every quarter. • No juvenile or child shall be administered medication for mental health problems without a psychological evaluation and diagnosis by appropriately trained mental health professionals. Krishna Kant & Sachin