Identity Mission
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
In Honduras, the overuse of orphanages as the only option of care for vulnerable children has created a huge issue. Orphanages are overrun, under resourced, and the majority not even registered with the local government welfare offices. Therefore, children are not only stuck in the system; they are lost. After working in orphan care from 2004-2014 as directors of an NGO that assisted orphanages throughout the country, we personally saw the destitute state of orphan care in Honduras, and that if something wasn't done to implement the other areas of the spectrum of care, it would only worsen. Therefore, in 2015, Identity Mission was established to bring family-based care to Honduras through a variety of programs that basically keep vulnerable kids in family care.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Foster Care
Training and equipping foster families that provide holistic care to orphans.
Family Preservation
Strengthening families in order to prevent separation and institutionalization.
Orphan Mentorship
We provide a mentorship program for teenagers living in orphanage institutions​ that train and equip them for adult life with an experienced mentor.
Where we work
External reviews
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Identity Mission currently has three active programs for supporting vulnerable children, all of which we operate with collaboration with a local Honduran church when possible. The main program we operate is a foster care program. Identity Mission aims to continue to grow our formal, private foster care program to serve more vulnerable children each year; therein preventing the need for them to enter any orphanage. We aim to recruit, train, and support all of our foster families and children in excellence; providing quality care and services. A second program is support for vulnerable children still residing in institutional care; with a specific focus on teens nearing adulthood and aging-out; here we aim to prevent the cycle of poverty an orphanhood. Thirdly, we run a small family preservation program; reaching poor families before the need arises to separate them from their children. Again, with the aim of preventing orphanhood and children having to enter into the system.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our main strategy for excelling at family-based care is to collaborate with the local, Honduran church. We recruit the majority of the foster families from partner churches; creating a stronger support system for the foster family and children. The church also partners with us in reaching youth growing up in orphanages, so that the youth can have a community that can support them once they age out. And the same concerning our Family Preservation program, we seek out churches that can support the at-risk family. Training would be our second largest strategy; we feel the more equipped our staff, foster families, and church partners are the more they can serve the vulnerable child safely and in excellence. Awareness is a third strategy we use to make our mission successful. Annually, Identity Mission hosts a conference for orphan care workers and other organizations here in Honduras to bring best practices and accurate resources. We also hold awareness meetings in the United States.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Primarily, only by God's grace are we equipped and capable to meet any of our goals. In prayer, we seek out professionals here in Honduras to be on staff. Psychologists and social workers to be the case workers over the foster children cases, and trained and educated directors and staff to run our other programs. In faith, we continually attend training sessions and conferences around the globe to better learn how to provide family-based care in third world countries.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In 2015 we provided family-based care for 10 children; 27 in 2016; and 59 in 2017. Also in 2017 we trained and supported 23 foster families. Saw 11 children moved on to permanency, and assisted 3 at-risk families in keeping their children. We also served 46 orphan care organizations with training and resources. We work in two regions of Honduras: Cortes and Comayagua. We currently have a staff number of 10. In moving forward, we need to hire a social worker; our two case workers are currently psychologists. And in order to better serve the foster children that are reintegrated into biological family, we desire to have a social worker who will know that area of work better. We also desire for our current case workers to be trained as trainers in Trauma Competent Care and TBRI. We plan to continue to grow our family-based care program to include more children and families each year. To support that, we also plan to recruit more local Honduran churches to collaborate with us.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Identity Mission
Board of directorsas of 04/29/2019