CURRENT SITUATION
The United States faces various challenges affecting lives of children including separation from their parents and placement in foster families; high juvenile arrest rates and violent culture prevalent in public schools including gun shootings; persisting racial discrimination limiting adoption chances of boys and girls of color; and violation of human rights of migrant children, including separation from their parents.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) sets basic rights of all children which include: the right to survival; the right to develop to the fullest potential; the right to protection from abuse, neglect and exploitation, and the right to participate in family, cultural and social life. These rights are often neglected in countries all over the world, including the United States of America, which to date has not signed the Convention.
service to help immigrants
in the new conditions
Immigration consulting,
psychological support,
conflict resolution (mediation), english courses (ESL)
Blog
Navigating Naturalization: A Path to US Citizenship
Obtaining US citizenship is a momentous journey for many immigrants, marking a pivotal milestone that unlocks opportunities for full integration into American society while safeguarding their lawful rights and privileges. This transformative process, known as naturalization, is governed by a set of rigorous requirements aimed at ensuring that candidates are fully prepared to embrace the […]
TARGET CATEGORIES
Kids
Immigrant
families
Families
Specialists
Volunteers and mentors
Communities
LET NUMBER SPEAK
1’000’000’000 children
In 2012, approximately 686,000 children were found to be victims of child abuse or neglect. Nationally, four-fifths (78%) of victims were neglected, 18% were physically abused, 9% were sexually abused, and 8% were psychologically maltreated.
In 2013, 641,000 were served in the child welfare system. In 2012, 61% received services in their own homes with their families and 38% were temporarily removed from their homes. In 2013, an estimated 255,000 children were removed from their parents as a result of a child abuse investigation and assessment and entered out of home care.
* Based on materials from the Global Forum for a World Without Orphans, 2019
(https://wwoforum.org)
** Based on materials from the Kidsave International
(https://www.kidsave.org/)
***Based on materials from the Child Protection Working Group of the US-Russia Social
Expertise Exchange (SEE), Eurasia Foundation, 2015
Report is available here.
Of all those served in 2013, 402,000 were in out of home care for a portion of the year. In 2012, more than a quarter of youth placed in out-of-home care were living with relatives in kinship care (28%), nearly half (47%) were in temporary foster family homes, a small portion were living in small group homes (9%) or placed in residential treatment centers or institutions for intensive therapeutic support (8%). Young people constitute a major segment of the foster care population. In 2013, 28% of children in foster care were 14 years of age or older. Most graduates of the foster system do not have living skills and are not psychologically ready for an independent life; they do not know how to create and maintain their own family; they lack motivation for active work***.
* Based on materials from the Global Forum for a World Without Orphans, 2019
(https://wwoforum.org)
** Based on materials from the Kidsave International
(https://www.kidsave.org/)
***Based on materials from the Child Protection Working Group of the US-Russia Social
Expertise Exchange (SEE), Eurasia Foundation, 2015
Report is available here.
WHAT WE DO
To fulfill the mission of helping children improve their quality of life by facilitating psychological well-being, IISEMS «Consensus» works to meet its four major goals: to strengthen the function of the family, educate children and adults on psycho-social health, mitigate the negative effect of dysfunctional conflicts, and improve psychological climate in society, based on the principles of mediation.
At the core of our work is the principle of helping our clients achieve harmony both with themselves and with others, and with the outside world as a whole.
We believe that when people reach harmony with themselves and with others, improving their life becomes an easier task.
We understand the need to help harmonize the person’s internal and external state of personality; therefore, we facilitate activities aimed at the preservation or restoration of psychological well-being, on the one hand, and the neutralization of negative conflictogenic factors, on the other.
The foundational principle of prevention of psychological problems is love and respect
In our work, we use various approached and principles, the main of which are: the principle of love and respect for every person; family care; harmonizing relationships with oneself and others; preservation and restoration of psychological well-being; mediative understanding approach.
We work with children, families, schools, social services, non-profit organizations, local communities, governments and other stakeholders.
HOW WE HELP
Research
we conduct research, including sociological and target group monitoring and examine complex cases at the request of local government and individuals.
Methodological
we develop programs, methods, and techniques of working with orphans, children left without parents and those living in foster families, children in the high-risk groups (including those in conflict with the law), troubled families (including parents serving sentences in prisons), methodological support, counseling, and supervision by specialists.
Education
we conduct training courses, seminars and trainings for social workers, teachers, psychologists, lawyers, counselors and mentors.
Consulting
we provide psychological, educational and legal advice to individuals.
Mediation
we use conflict-resolution methods and techniques based on the principles of mediation, as well as prevention of illegal behavior of minors.
Rehabilitation
we facilitate social and psychological rehabilitation of minors with addictive and delinquent behavior.
Awareness
we organize and implement socially significant events (forums, actions, round tables, conferences), and develop materials (including publication in media), radio and television programs.
Publishing
we publish scientific, methodological and training materials, guides, promotional materials.
Charity
we organize charitable activities aimed at preventing child abandonment and at supporting motherhood and childhood, as well as targeted assistance to individuals who find themselves in a difficult life situations.