The challenges to providing healthy and appropriate developmental experiences to vulnerable children in an institutionalised setting remain enormous. At Udayan Care orphanage, children arrive at our doorstep with unimaginable trauma. Udayan Care, a non-governmental organisation in India, has modelled its 13 Children's Homes and three Aftercare facilities on a holistic group care model; where small numbers of children are placed together in an apartment in a community to address their traumatic experiences and other life adversities within the context of this new environment. This paper details how, with limited funds, Udayan Care has been able to tackle the challenges of providing homes where children can undergo the slow process of healing, surrounded by supportive and dedicated professionals (carers) who do their best to meet their ongoing developmental needs. These carers work on obstacles affecting the children, concentrating their energies on aiding them in developing more secure and healthy attachments, adaptive emotional regulation skills, and capacities for resilience within the context of holding a vision for their futures. Our homes draw upon staff and the local community in unique ways to foster these developmental goals. This paper focuses especially on how issues of retention and lack of sufficient funds impact on recruiting lifetime volunteers (Mentor Parents), training volunteers and supporting them in their ongoing work. Additionally, this paper highlights ways in which we have addressed coping with these obstacles, through recruiting experts trained abroad to lead in-person and online workshops for our carers. These adjustments have led to better outcomes overall for the children we care for.

Anxiety and depression are common problems experienced by children and adolescents that, without an effective intervention, can lead to a series of negative consequences. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness the Spanish version of the FRIENDS for Life program (Barrett, 2008a, 2008b), a social and emotional skills program that uses cognitive-behavioural techniques for the prevention and early intervention of anxiety and depression. The program was implemented at the selective level of prevention with girls living at an orphanage in Mexico. Participants received the program for 10 consecutive weeks, and pretest and post-test measures were administered. Measures evaluated participants’ anxiety and depressive symptoms and risk status, proactive coping skills, levels of self-concept, self-esteem, and optimism. Social validity was also assessed. Results showed positive changes particularly in optimism and self-concept. Particular items and subscales of the measures also reported statistically significant changes, such as a decrease in worry, physiological symptoms of anxiety, and negative mood, and an increase in self-esteem at home and with peers. Participants evaluated the program as enjoyable and useful. Implications of the findings and further research are discussed.