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Puerto Rico
Hermanas |
The Sisters of San Agustin del Coqui have worked with minors rescued from abuse by Law 342 since 1995. An essential entity in the community, their goal is to prevent a second repetition of abuse. To realize this objective, the Sisters provide education workshops for the minors who have been recently rescued. Workshop objectives include teaching the minors: the social skills for making friends; how to identify and connect with stable persons, who will serve as a source of support in different environments; ways to maintain their self-esteem at a high level; and a path for breaking through the cycle of abuse and mistreatment. Program benefits are extended to the support networks of the minors, which include foster and biological parents, social workers, and other providers of services to the family. At the Administration for Families and Children, the Sisters have worked with more than 3,000 minors between the ages of 4 to 21 years. They address the crisis of separation along with the need for these minor children and youth to know what is happening and to realize they are not guilty. Reports of workshop discussions and collaborative meetings are used as a basis for recommendations and follow-up to facilitate the adjustment of each individual abused minor. Additionally, the Sisters operate a community library and offer orientation and counseling to youth. Throughout Puerto Rico, the importance and social impact of the work of the Sisters of San Augustin del Coqui on behalf of abused minors is recognized.