Editorial by Jill Nosach, CEO and National Director of SOS Children’s Villages USA, highlighting the urgent need for action after groundbreaking study reveals family, societal and systemic factors driving family separation
WASHINGTON, October 31, 2024 (Ecnetnews.com)
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For millions of children and families worldwide, unnecessary family separation is a heartbreaking reality. But new groundbreaking research from SOS Children’s Villages provides a bright, data-informed hope to prevent a child’s need for alternative care and strengthen families.
A global leader in family separation prevention, SOS Children’s Villages has revealed critical insights from its latest research, showing when, why and how families are unnecessarily — for reasons not including abuse, neglect or other dangerous situations — torn apart and solutions to prevent this distressing occurrence.
Data collected across eight countries — and told through the voices of children, young people and families who have experienced or are at risk of family separation — highlights key drivers of family separation, including extreme poverty, illness and lack of support.
Gender-based violence and inequality, school violence and climate change are also significant factors. These issues are compounded by underfunded or inadequate child protection systems that fail to prioritize the best interests of children.
As the CEO of SOS Children’s Villages USA, this research is deeply personal to me. I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact of family separation on parents and children — young people who, without the love and security of their families, are left vulnerable and unable to reach their full potential.
Trusting bonds are crucial to a child’s emotional health and development, and family separation robs children of the nurturing support they need. As one child participant shared, having “no love and affection makes you feel worthless.”
Children who grow up without the love and protection of a family face severe long-term consequences, including heightened risks of mental and physical health issues, labor and sexual exploitation and perpetuating cycles of trauma for future generations.
This latest research offers solutions for policymakers, governments, NGOs and communities to keep families together. By addressing root causes — such as providing economic, health and educational support — communities can break the cycle of unnecessary family separation and empower children with the love and support they need to lead thriving lives.
With the support of compassionate child advocates, we can strengthen vulnerable families to ensure that children grow up in the comfort of a healthy family, ending the trauma of unnecessary family separation and giving children the most precious gift: the unconditional love of a family.
Because love matters.
To read the full report, learn more about SOS Children’s Villages or get involved, visit sos-usa.org.
Source: SOS Children’s Villages USA
