Full brain development for 200 children in Mexico

The neighborhood where the D0A3 Center is located is one of the neighborhoods with the most cases of COVID-19, in Mexico City. For this reason, we start our September - December cycle 100% online but with the same purpose that all Mexican children start their life with solid emotional ties and without toxic stress interference to achieve healthy social and emotional development.

We have adapted to overcome the challenges, making the necessary adjustments in our operation without losing our pillars: proper development of children, training positive parenting skills and strengthening the bond, always thinking in their well-being.

• The Initial Education teaches are attending to the D0A3 Center so that the sessions can be transmitted from the classrooms, improving the quality of the connection and they can use the didactic material as support.
• Increasing communication with mothers, fathers or caregivers of children to listen to them, offer them strategies and tips to reduce the level of stress at home.
• Continuing measuring the progress of our children, we remotely administer the Child Development Assessment (EDI in Spanish) tests to children and BRIEF-A to adults.
• To provide comprehensive care, with the support of our D0A3 volunteers, we are offering remote psychological support to families who require it and nutrition consultations.
• Support with scholarships and flexible payment schemes to families that were economically affected; 54% lost one or both sources of their income, not being able to cover the recovery fee of the D0A3 Center. 

Our achievements in this period have been:

• 84% of the children improved or reached their expected level of development.
• 77% of caregivers have an adequate score on the BRIEF A test.

We are beginning a cycle with new challenges and opportunities, but we are sure that with your support and trust we will be able to serve more children and their families.

Links:

• Our website

During the pandemic, the uncertainty, the economic situation and health vulnerability, increases toxic stress and even violence within families. In Mexico, it has been reported that domestic violence has increased from 30% to 100% in these months.

Therefore, it is very important for us to continue working with our children and their parents even if it is by distance. 

Since the contingency began in Mexico, we have modified our operation, always thinking of taking care of the well-being and health of our children and their families. We change our face-to-face sessions for online sessions; we respect the same groups and the same schedules so that families follow their routines as well as possible. For the parents, we are giving more self-regulation and self-care strategies. If they are well, their children will be better. We motivate and guide them to continue creating safe environments within their homes, without interference from stress or violence.

Our relationship with the beneficiaries has been strengthening, technology has allowed us to continue being close to them and communication has been much more frequent and more intimate. 

We already want to return to our Center, give a big hug to our children, we miss them very much. But while their health is at risk, we will continue to see them through the screen,

listen to each other in calls or with voice messages and continue to be connected so that our children achieve the development expected for their age.

Links:

• We need your support!
• Visit our website
• Learn more about us