Separated Children Intervention and Orientation Network (SCION project)

For the purposes of this project, separated children and adolescents are defined as children under the age of 19 who live outside their birth country without a parent or previous legal/customary primary care giver (adapted from the definition provided by the Focal Point on Separated Children in the Americas).

Included are those who seek asylum in another place and those who have been brought over for trafficking or exploitation and/or may be living, undocumented, on the margins of society. Regardless of their status, it is important to remember that they are, first and foremost, children in need of protection.

Services

• Initial Assessment and Action Planning: identifying individual needs, appropriate services and courses of action that may assist with landing, settlement, adaptation, or possible return.
• Enhanced Information: providing assistance through various systems and projects, a designated representative for each client, and support during interviews.
• Referral: introducing relevant services and/or resources within the broader community that relate to the specific needs of each client.
• Service Linking: assistance in accessing the relevant services or resources in the community that relate to the specific needs of each client.

• Service Bridging: helping service providers better understand and respond to client needs.

• Service Support: making necessary resources and expertise available to support-service providers.

• Network Building: creating and developing a network in B.C. for governmental and non-governmental organizations involved with separated children in order to serve the best interests of these children.

Who is eligible?

You can join the program if you are:

• separated children under the age of 19
• somebody who provides care to separated children
• an organization that deals with separated children