In safe arms (Nongkhai, Thailand) - Photo: R. Fleischanderl
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An international group composed of staff members from SOS Children's Villages, who are involved in selecting, training and supporting SOS mothers, worked on topical questions regarding the "Job profile of the SOS mother" from 19 - 23 March 2007 in Innsbruck/Austria. The group discussed the duties and skills required, as well as further training for the mothers and the external recognition of the profession of SOS mothers. A common approach was developed for all continents and cultures.
Babies are often brought to SOS Children's Villages (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina) - Photo: S. Gubelic
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How does a family form?
For the first time in the history of the organisation, an international group has worked together on the job profile of the SOS mother. With their individual needs and rights, children are central to the work of every SOS mother. This was not called into question. The main duty of an SOS mother is to form an SOS family, which is not an easy task when you think that the children have different backgrounds and have often had very painful experiences. They are then supposed to grow up together with their SOS mother.
A basic element in an SOS family is that the SOS mother has a solid relationship with each individual child and that she appreciates and supports him or her, taking into account that the children have their own individual strengths and weaknesses, as well as their own particular backgrounds. This entails, amongst many other things, working on the children's pasts and remaining in contact with the children's biological families.
One of the challenges is the integration of the past of each child into a new family life - Photo: C. Mathisse
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Theory alone is not enough
Every woman needs expertise in different areas to be able to carry out these duties. Participants at the meeting defined these areas as "attitude", "theoretical knowledge" and "skills". What is meant by that? SOS mothers must have a particular attitude, specific approaches and values towards children as well as themselves. This includes the women being prepared to become involved in painful processes, if it is in the child's interests, as well as recognising their own limits and needs, and not becoming overwhelmed.
An understanding of the duties is based on the theoretical knowledge of fields such as education and psychology. Specific skills are required to apply this knowledge and therefore put what has been learnt into practice.
The SOS mother is the centre of the family (Santa Cruz, Bolivia) - Photo: B. Neeleman
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The global team defined the expertise required according to three categories: "attitude", "theoretical knowledge" and "skills". The next phase will see the definition of the different elements of the training programme for the SOS mother, within the framework of which these skills should be imparted and which should apply to all SOS mothers. Such a programme therefore means not only providing the know-how and methods to be applied, but also working with the women on their attitude and values.
Not all of these topics are new. The SOS mother's duties already included work with the children's biological families. However, training that focuses on imparting these skills represents another step forward for the profession of the SOS mother, which is a significant move towards the recognition of the SOS mother as an "educational specialist in out-of-home care". This is what all of SOS Children's Villages associations are aiming towards.