Care for Life seeks out the poorest villages with a manageable size of 160-200 families. Care for Life meets with local leaders and the villages to determine the interest of partnership. Once an interest is established and the program explained, the village residents elect their own local leaders to work side by side with Care for Life on implementing the program presented.

At the initial involvement with Care for Life each family is assessed to evaluate its current living conditions and to determine its needs. This also provides a baseline for future assessments to measure progress. (Assessments are performed every 6 months.)

In its initial phase Care for Life divides each village (160- 200 families) into multiple zones. In each zone a local leadership is established and works hand in hand with Care for Life's staff in bringing to pass the mission of the Family Preservation Program. This local leadership as well as Care for Life meet with the families on a regular basis to teach and encourage each family to improve the current situation, and achieve their goal and its purpose.

Care for Life together with the elected village leaders meet with the families in their zones to work with and teach the 8 eight areas of emphasis of the Family Preservation Program, which consists of the following:

1. Education
2. Health and Hygiene
3. Food Security and Nutrition
4. Sanitation
5. Income Generation
6. Home Improvement
7. Psycho-Social Well-Being
8. Community Participation

With help from the Care for Life and the village leaders goals are established for the period of six months by each family according to their main needs. Families are rewarded for accomplishing their goals.

These goals are the driving force in the progress of each individual family.

Upon achievement of their goals each family receives its reward and starts working on their next goals. The goal and reward cycle is then repeated during the 30 months of Care for Life's presence in the village. For families who own homes, the rewards are often house improvement materials such as bags of cement, roof materials, doors, etc. For families who rent their houses, other things like cooking pots, chairs, and blankets are suggested. Rewards are based on the needs of the families and decided when the goals are set.

Twice during the Family Preservation Program the village and Care for Life celebrate their accomplishments during a Day of Celebration. It involves the entire village including the Care for Life staff. There is singing, dancing, and skits that help to celebrate the achievement and encourage continuous progress.

Care for Life and the village leaders regularly instruct families in the 8 eight areas of emphasis as well as conduct community-wide classes.

1. Education
2. Health and Hygiene
3. Food Security and Nutrition
4. Sanitation
5. Income Generation
6. Home Improvement
7. Psycho-Social Well-Being
8. Community Participation

Through the process of setting and accomplishing goals, village members are establishing the emotional development needed to leave behind dependence on others and move towards self-reliance. This ultimately instills in each individual the knowledge that he or she is in charge of of his or her own future.

The program duration is 30 months. During that time families and village leaders are trained to continue newly acquired behaviors without outside support after the program is completed. The extrinsic motivation of the material rewards become secondary in importance, replaced by the intrinsic motives of a better life – self-reliance, independence, health, and happiness. Assessments continue for up to (5) five years to track program adherence and to find ways to enhance existing programs.

The effectiveness of the Family Preservation Program is found in our results. Check out our results >