STA. MARIA DE MATTIAS CENTER ORPHANAGE

STA. MARIA DE MATTIAS CENTER ORPHANAGE

BY: PATRICIA MAGCALAS

NATURE OF THE ORPHANAGE

The Sta. Maria De Mattias Center Orphanage was formerly known as Blessed Maria De Mattias Center. It envisions a community where less fortunate children are led with life of dignity and self-reliance committed in the service of the family and society. The organization commits themselves to promote individuality and the dignity of the orphaned children who were neglected and left to themselves in coordination to Christ’s salvation. 

SETTING:WHERE CAN I FIND IT?

The orphanage is located at no.112 Ipil Street, Marikina Heights, Marikina City in Metro Manila.

METHODS: HOW DO THEY RUN THINGS?

 Sta. Maria De Mattias Center Orphanage offers various programs and services to its clients that would aid them in their growth and development. These programs and/or services inlcude: (1.) residential care were in they offer free residential accomodation to homeless children who are in elementary up until high school. (2.) They offer educational assistance which includes conducting tutorial classes which focuses on primary and secondary education for the abandoned children. (3.) They offer medical care and health care for their clients and (4.) psychological and psychiatric services when a client needs further professional help from certified practitioners. The Orphanage also offers (5.) case management services were they ensure that the relationship of the client with other individuals and with their family stays healthy and harmonious. (6.) Value formation and character building services is also offered to enhance the spiritual morality and formation of the client as the orphanage is a religious institution centered in the teachings and love of Christ. The orphanage also offers (7.) sports and recreation services to develop the talent and skills of the clients in sports related activities and at the same time develop their social skills and (8.) skills training services to further develop their new found skill over the summer which may range from sport related skills or art related skills.

ROLES: WHAT DO THEY DO?

The community of Sta. Maria De Mattias Center Orphanage seeks to aid and guide abandoned female children by providing various programs and services that ranges from educational services to recreational services that would greatly benefit in the growth of the young clients of the institution. The social workers in the community of Sta. Maria De Mattias Center Orphanage take up the roles as: an "enabler", "case manager", and a "counselor" in providing aid to their clients to help solve their current such as assisting them in searching for a scholarship in school. The social workers aldo take up the role as "educator" by not only providing academic assistance but also help their clients acquire other skills and help develop them in the long run. 

COMPETENCIES: WHAT ARE THEY CAPABLE OF DOING?

Social Workers at the Sta. Maria De Mattia Center are equipped with various competencies that aid them in providing support and aid to their clients composed of young girls who are in need of guidance and support. These competencies include: 

(1.) the capabilities of the social worker to create and sustain a healthy relationship with their clients,

(2.) able to conduct empowering process to raise the individuality of their young clients,

(3.) able to effectively communicate with the young clients to create a rapport between social worker and client,

(4.) and strong cultural and intercultural competency to be able to handle each individual case with an open mind and heart.

A social worker should not only be able to effectively create a healthy relationship with their client but also be 

(5.) able to practice practical methods and techniques in handling each individual client's cases,

(6.) able to analyze each policy and take appropriate action in accordance to each cases,

(7.) able to think critically to lessen the occurrence of misinformation, misunderstanding and the like that would worsen the client's situation instead of improving it,

(8.) able to assist in conducting social planning together with the client and their family and/or relatives,

(9.) and be able to perform crisis intervention when the client faces a challenging issue.

In the age of technology, it is also apparent that the social workers are

(10.) able to use advance technology and have good computer literacy in relation to being

(11.) able to conduct research that further aid future researchers and/or social workers to develop better policies and methods in social work.

For a social worker to be able to attend to the need of each client they should

(12.) able to practice sound time management.

Finally a social worker must be 

(13.) able to detach themselves emotionally from the work so as not to let personal emotions bias to affect their credibility as professionals. 

RELIEVE THE MOMENT: WHAT WENT DOWN?

Members of the Humanities and Social Science strand in our institution were able to visit and converse with the community of Sta. Maria De Mattias Center Orphanage along with their social workers and clients. To them it was a fulfilling experience to be able to meet and greet with one of the social workers stationed at the Orphanage and have a talk regarding the duties and aims of the community as well as the parameters regarding the young girls who are applicable to be entered in the orphanage. This includes their other services such as their educational services where they've set standards the young girls must maintain to continue their scholarship and the assistance of the community.

It was an insightful experience especially during the student's interaction with the clients of Sta. Maria De Mattias Center Orphanage. Learning about the experiences of the clients themselves proved that the community was true to their vision and mission and the sincerity and care the social workers did to assist them through their endeavors. The clients showed an essence of maturity around them and a sense of independence as relieved by the students of our community that was applauded. It was an interaction filled with good intent and warmed the hearts of both the students and the clients. 

source of information: http://adorers phil1.tripod.com/webonmediacontents/Assistential%20works.html