What is expected from the Sponsor:
1. Regular monthly payments of $75.00 per month. What is expected from the Sponsor:
2. Preferred method of payment is Pre-Authorized Offerings (see enclosed form)
3. Initial two year commitment (for consistency with the children)
4. One month notice of desire to discontinue Sponsorship.
5. When your Child finishes high school, you will be contacted regarding your intentions to either discontinue Sponsorship or continue throughout secondary education
a. Continuing throughout secondary education remains at the same rate
b. School tuition and dorm fees are funded separately through our University Students’ Fund
c. Sponsors are of course welcome to contribute to this fund. 6. Regular ‘gifts’ of
a. One to two packets per year (up to end of high school)
i. Includes a letter, photos, small gifts
ii. Zippered pouch provided.
iii.Suggestions provided.
iv. Approximately $20 in value
b. One to two envelopes a year (university students)
i. Includes a letter and photo Includes $20 ‘fun money’
c. From time to time it might be requested that a money donation be given instead of packets to go toward an outing or simply because only one person is travelling to Thailand and weight restrictions make this an easier option.
What the Sponsor can expect:
1. Regular updates on life at Hot Springs and the well being of your child.
a. Sponsors’ Group emails (monthly when possible)
b. Highview to Thailand blog
c. Facebook ‘real time’ when we are visiting Hot Springs
d. Once a year ‘report’ to congregation on a Sunday morning.
e. Current pictures following each trip
f. Specific, individual reports regarding your Child as needed (eg. Illness, school award, etc.)
2. Thank you notes and pictures, brought home following each trip.
3. Special appreciation opportunity to meet with Pastors Suradet and Yupa when they visit Canada.
4. Clear and expedient communication regarding any changes for your Sponsored Child.
5. Being properly receipted through Highview Community Church for all donations.
Visiting Your Sponsored Child:
1. Sponsors are encouraged to visit their Sponsored Child.
2. All Sponsors, like other visitors to Hot Springs, will be required to:
a. Fill out a trip application (first time visiting)
b. Provide a current police check (3 years)
c. Provide evidence of child protection policy training
i. Provided by Highview once a year or also on line
d. Pay their own expenses for the trip
3. Visiting Sponsors will be careful to express their interest and special bond with in their Child without exclusion of the other children.
4. It is not an expectation that Sponsors visit their Sponsored Child.
If Your Child Leaves the Care of New Family Foundation
1. Reasons a child leaves the care of New Family Foundation
a. Graduate from school (high school or university)
i. This is our standard and our hope, to have the children in our care from the day they come to us, until they are launched into their adult lives.
b. Biological parent’s situation changes and can now provide a safe and healthy home for their own Child.
i. This is unusual but has happened. It is of course our preference for children to be with their own families whenever that best serves the Child.
c. Biological parent breaks the agreement with New Family Foundation and removes the Child from our care.
i. All parents/guardians leaving children in the care of New Family Foundation are required to sign an agreement of understanding stating that children will remain in our care until graduation from high school at the earliest.
ii. Every measure is made to help keep good communications and understandings with biological parents, and to maintain consistency of care.
iii. It is important to understand that NO government system or legal ‘custody’ agreement is available in Thailand, and that ultimately biological parents do have the right to take their children back.
d. The Child demonstrates persistent behaviours that are illegal and/or unsafe for the family as a whole and are taken back to their original families.
i. This is laid out in the agreement with the parents.
ii. Every measure is taken to lovingly correct behaviours with multiple opportunities (case by case situation) to comply with safety and household rules.
2. If your Child leaves the care of New Family Foundation
a. You will be notified immediately and given explanation for the reasons
b. You will be contacted to discuss discontinuation or redirection of your monthly payments.
Schooling “Off Site”
1. In rare circumstances (three children in the past 11 years) a Child’s educational needs are best served at a different school than the local government-run schools close to Hot Springs.
a. Eg. Vocational training to finish high school or sports-oriented schools that ‘scout’ exceptional talent.
2. Children board at the different school and do not live with the rest of the family during the school term.
a. They visit Hot Springs for holidays and sometimes weekends, much as would be the case in other ‘boarding school’ situations.
3. Tuition is paid for through Sponsor’s monthly donations, and reports and updates are sent to Pastors Suradet and Yupa as their ‘foster parents’.
4. Should your Sponsored Child be considered for off site schooling you will be notified immediately and asked if you would like to continue your sponsorship under these conditions.
a. Sponsors of off site children receive less frequent notes and pictures from their Child, so it can be a less connective experience.
5. This rare practice is only considered when it truly is in the best interest of the Child’s overall development and educational goals. The off site schools have excellent reputations and everything is done to ensure the well being of the Child.
