At Dorie’s Promise, our mission is to provide a warm, safe, and dignified environment for every child who arrives at our home. We understand that entering a new place can be overwhelming, especially for children who have faced difficult situations. That’s why our intake protocols are carefully designed to ensure each child feels welcome from the very first moment. Step by step, we help them adapt to their new surroundings in ways that respect their emotional, medical, and educational needs.
First Steps: A Careful Medical Evaluation
When children arrive at Dorie’s Promise, we often know very little about their health or family background. In some cases, we receive almost no information at all. For this reason, a careful medical evaluation is always the very first step. Our team checks the child thoroughly—looking not only for immediate concerns, but also for long-term health needs that may require follow-up.
If anything serious is discovered, our in-house doctor steps in to provide a more detailed consultation. The physician develops a treatment plan, offers recommendations for ongoing care, and ensures the child’s needs are met before they take their next step in the intake process. This moment is often the first time a child experiences consistent medical care, and it helps set the stage for a healthier, more stable future.
A Precautionary Isolation Period
After medical evaluation, each child enters a five-day precautionary isolation period. While this may sound strict, it is a protective measure designed to safeguard both the new child and the rest of the children in our home. Some illnesses take time to appear, so this period allows us to observe for any signs of infection before they are introduced into the larger community.
But isolation does not mean being alone. During these days, our staff makes sure the child is never left feeling abandoned. They receive personalized attention, gentle care, and daily interactions. This is also when our psychology team begins to engage with them, using small, friendly steps to build trust. By the end of this period, the child usually feels more at ease and ready to meet their new peers.
Building Trust Through Psychological Support
The emotional needs of each child are just as important as their physical ones. Many arrive at Dorie’s Promise after experiencing trauma, neglect, or instability. From the very beginning, our psychology team steps in to provide comfort and support. The goal is not to overwhelm the child with questions, but to create a safe space where they can slowly open up.
Instead of formal interviews, our team uses games, drawings, role play, and other creative activities to gently observe a child’s emotional state, learning level, and social skills. These indirect approaches help us understand each child’s unique story while allowing them to feel respected and secure. Over time, these early interactions become the foundation of a trusting relationship that can support long-term healing.
Gradual Integration into the Home
Once the isolation period ends, the child begins the process of joining the larger Dorie’s Promise community. This doesn’t happen all at once. First, they are introduced to supervised playtime where they can meet other children in a safe setting. As they become more comfortable, their interactions expand—sharing meals, engaging in group activities, and eventually moving into their assigned house and room.
Our multidisciplinary team carefully guides every step, ensuring that the transition is smooth and respectful. Other children, especially those who have been with us longer, often play an important role as well. They help welcome new arrivals, showing them around, and offering companionship. This combination of professional support and peer friendship allows children to settle in without feeling rushed.
Education and Development
Education is another key part of the intake process. Every child receives an age-appropriate educational evaluation soon after arriving. For our youngest residents—those between 18 months and 4.5 years—we use the Edin II early stimulation program. This allows us to assess fine and gross motor skills, language development, cognitive abilities, and socioemotional growth, ensuring no area of development is overlooked.
For older children, we adapt based on their prior schooling. If they’ve already had some educational experiences, they are placed in the appropriate grade level. If they have gaps in learning, we offer a six-month leveling process to help them catch up. And for those without any prior schooling, we start from the very basics, giving them the foundational knowledge they need.
Our holistic approach means that education at Dorie’s Promise is not just about academics—it also nurtures emotional growth, creativity, and confidence. Whether a child is learning to read for the first time or preparing for advanced studies, we focus on helping them succeed in every dimension of life.
A Safe and Thoughtful Transition
The goal of our intake protocols is always the same: to give each child a slow, safe, and thoughtful transition into their new home. Because every child’s story is unique, we tailor our approach to meet their individual needs—whether medical, emotional, or educational.
At Dorie’s Promise, we don’t just open the doors to a house—we open the doors to a home filled with care, respect, and new opportunities. From day one, our commitment is to create an environment that nurtures trust, stability, and healing. Every child deserves to feel safe, loved, and valued, and our intake process is where that new chapter begins.