Casa Familiar: A place for families
The Instituto Nueva Escuela (INE) is committed to transforming education in our country. This transformation includes families, which have a space to become stronger and happier, so that the boy, girl and young person can develop as a human being for the common good.
In search of accompanying, helping, as well as healing families who are going through or have gone through some situation of violence, Casa Familiar is born. A space within Montessori school communities where families can seek help for both adults and students.
Carmen Ríos, director of the program, describes Casa Familiar as a space of peace and calm, where families are listened to without judging them, to offer them help and to transform their pain into a plan for happiness.
"The fact that these spaces are inside a school is perfect, because it allows the family or the student to have easy and free access to services," said Carmen.
The services are offered to the student and the family when the situation warrants it and if the family so wishes. In order to provide a service, the teacher or other school personnel may make a referral to Casa Familiar. Also, the same family can approach the Casa Familiar and communicate their interest in the services.
The services offered by Casa Familiar are the following:
psychological therapies
alternative therapies such as yoga, music therapy and art therapy
recreational activities designed exclusively for each of the participants
These services seek to address the physical and emotional needs that may be present as a result of the violence experienced. In turn, psychoeducational workshops are offered and there are support groups to strengthen positive parenting skills in each family nucleus.
In addition, as an accessible space, peace and non-violence agendas are promoted, providing tools for personal and family transformation, for the achievement of a healthy and happy upbringing.
There are currently 13 Family Houses located in public Montessori schools, but if any family is interested in services and their school does not have this space, they can call the nearest Casa Familiar for services.
Since its inception, this space has served 1,672 families, seeking to ensure that our communities are healthy, strong, happy and that they help boys and girls to develop to the fullest in order to contribute to our society as builders of peace.
The Casa Familiar collective, which is around 31 people, had a retreat last week to connect with each other and organize for this new year to receive each family.
