Alternative Care and After Care

Alternative Care

Family-like Care (between the ages of 3 and 14)

This programme is the backbone for care at SOS Children’s Villages Jordan. The programme consists of a community made of family houses, where each house is led by a mother who provides care and love for 5 to 7 children.

An SOS family is similar to a biological family in terms of variety of ages and gender. In the family house the children are raised as brothers and sisters until the age of 14. At this age the youth moves from the family house to a youth house. The youth lives at the youth house until the age of 18. 

Youth Houses (between the ages of 14 and 18)

SOS youth houses accommodate youth from the age of 14 till the age of 18. A youth house provides a home to 8 male or 8 female youth and each house is led by a male or female youth leader. Moving to an SOS youth house intends to be the first step towards an independent life outside SOS Children’s Villages. Currently in Jordan we have eight youth houses in the cities of Amman, Irbid and Aqaba.

Community Houses

SOS Children's Villages Jordan introduced the innovative "Community Houses" model in Aqaba in 2020, making it the first of its kind in Jordan, and is aligned with the global focus towards alternative care and reducing institutionalization.

The community housing model takes the Family-like Care model into a rented house outside the premises of the village allowing children and youth to live independently within the community. Living in a community house allows children and youth to learn and adopt the values and social norms of the local community, and participate in more group activities. This prepares them better for the supervised-independent living.

To ensure the safety and well-being of the children and youth in these houses, they are monitored by the Children's Village Programme Director (CVPD) and a psychologist through periodic physical visits. The Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) also conducts monthly visits to the houses.

This model has been successful because it empowers children and youth, helps them socialize and become a part of the community, and reduces stigma and institutionalization. Building on this successful experience, SOS Jordan expanded this model, and SOS Children's Village Amman opened its first community house in 2022. 

Small Group Homes

Small group homes provide temporary alternative care for children and young people until they can be reintegrated with their families, and provide a safe environment for them to live in. This model follows a "family-like care" approach. Additionally, this model provides integrated care for biological siblings who come from broken families, with the aim of reuniting them by providing care in a single home.

Parent-child Living​

The Parent-Child living model offers temporary accommodation within the village premises to women and their children in need of residential care until the mother gains the confidence and capability to provide the best care for her children.

It aims to prevent parent-child separation due to a mother's economic situation, by providing accommodation and economic empowerment programs that enable the mother to become financially independent and care for her children. ​

Supervised-independent living (between the ages of 18- 24) 

After the age of 18, the responsibility of taking after youth falls under the Ministry of Social Development. However, we continue to provide them with support; this includes financial and technical support for those who are still studying in either academic or vocational paths. As well as for those who are looking for employment. We have strategic partnerships, such as Al Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans, where education, residence rental, household expenses, health insurance and personal expenses are covered by our partners for these young individuals.

Some of the youth who graduated from SOS Children's Villages Jordan have reintegrated with their biological families or with their relatives. Others are living an independent life and are self-reliant. Most of the graduates have successfully developed professional careers in different sectors such as business, engineering, hospitality and pharmaceuticals among others.

After Care (between the ages of 18- 35) 

SOS Children's Villages Jordan continues to offer support after care programmes aimed at empowering youth (between the ages of 18 and 35) by equipping them with the essential skills, networks and knowledge necessary to obtain equal opportunities and the ability to compete in the labor market, or to start their own businesses, enabling them to achieve financial stability and economic independence. Through these programmes, we are empowering young people to build a foundation for a bright future​.