Empowering Foster Girls and Teens in Puerto Rico

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support and commitment to our mission at Hogares Teresa Toda. We are excited to share the achievements from the 2024–2025 fiscal year, which reflect the positive impact your contributions have made on the lives of the girls and young women we serve.

Throughout the year, we made significant strides in the well-being, development, and stability of our residents. In January 2025, we celebrated a quinceañero, where the biological mother of the young woman participated, strengthening familial bonds in a meaningful context. We implemented and consolidated family visits within the home as a strategy to foster contact, communication, and the restoration of relationships between the minors and their families.

All participants were promoted to the next grade, achieving an average academic score of 86%. Four minors actively participated in school basketball and volleyball tournaments, promoting teamwork, discipline, and a sense of belonging. Two residents proudly took part in graduation ceremonies, showcasing their academic progress, while one resident obtained a summer job, fostering the development of work skills and responsibility. Additionally, three participants were selected for the Honor Roll in their respective schools, recognizing their academic performance and commitment.

We also hired a recreational leader who significantly contributed to the development and organization of playful and recreational activities, benefiting the emotional well-being and social integration of the participants. Three individuals successfully reunited with their families as a result of ongoing therapeutic processes and preparation, while nine minors transitioned to smaller foster homes, favoring a more personalized care approach.

In terms of specialized educational support, four girls were formally enrolled in the Special Education Program, allowing access to tailored services for specific learning disorders and ADHD. Throughout the fiscal year, a total of 12 minors received services from the Special Education Program, and psychometric evaluations were conducted for three participants to identify needs and plan individualized supports.

Our collaborative therapeutic interventions included seven participants receiving occupational and speech therapy services through a community agency, enhancing their overall development. We attended to 36 girls throughout the year, with 88% showing clinical stability, reflecting the effectiveness of the therapeutic support provided. Only four girls required psychiatric hospitalization, indicating a low incidence of severe crises among the served population.

In nursing management, we successfully completed the required documentation for the authorization of over-the-counter medications, ensuring adherence to medical protocols and the safety of participants. Our staff received guidance on potential side effects of medications, enhancing proper management and timely responses to adverse reactions. Ongoing training for staff and residents focused on the prevention of contagious diseases, strengthening health and safety measures within the institution. All residents received follow-up and treatment from a pediatrician at least twice a year, with two residents requiring successful surgical interventions and recovering without complications. Specialist services were provided according to participants' needs, encompassing a range of medical consultations.

Our compliance in external audits was commendable, with the Department of Family finding no deficiencies in the clinical documentation of records, reflecting strict adherence to established protocols and standards. Lastly, we continued working on the digitalization of protocols and documents, shared on the TEAMS platform, facilitating organization, access, and efficiency in our internal processes.

In conclusion, we emphasize that your generous support enables us to continue providing essential services and fostering a nurturing environment for our residents. Together, we are making a profound difference in their lives, and we sincerely thank you for believing in our mission and for your unwavering commitment to Hogares Teresa Toda.

Links:

• http://hogaresteresatoda.org