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What happens when my sponsored child turns 19 and leaves the program

26 posts
catzs64
January 13, 2014

I am currently sponsoring 5 children. Two of them will turn 19 within the next year and a half. I understand that living in the Philippines they will 'end' their time with CI. How does that work? Will I be notified before they 'dropped'? Can I write them one last time?

Missing user
January 14, 2014

Around the 19th birthday, they will send you a final letter and you will send one to your child. If you want, you can define the type of future contact you wish, if any. You can give them your contact information, if you wish.

debbies
January 14, 2014

Children graduate from our program about 2-3 months after turning 19. At that time, we send a Graduation Packet to the sponsor, which may or may not include a final letter from the youth, it all depends on if the youth come to the SAC to write a final letter.

Once a sponsor receives their Graduation Packet (which contains a letter, certificate and possibly info on a new child), they are welcome to write a final letter to the youth containing their direct contact info (facebook, e-mail, address, phone #, etc.) and we will forward it to the SOA for delivery to the graduated youth.

catzs64
January 14, 2014

Thank you so very much for this information.

Missing user
March 29, 2014

I was wondering is the final letter written to the graduating child written on the CI web site or is it sent in snail mail.

Missing user
March 8, 2015 in reply to catzs64
catzs64- I was so glad to find this post. I have been wondering if there is an option to stay in touch with children once they graduate from the program as well. Thanks for asking the question for the rest of us!

Missing user
March 9, 2015 in reply to debbies
Good to know. Thank you for the information.
Missing user
March 11, 2015
I just had one graduate. For my final letter to her, I had the option of mailing it in to KC or sending an email to a special graduation letter email address. I used the email address so I hope it worked ok! I gave her my FB and email address in case she would like to keep in contact with me.
debbies
March 12, 2015
You are correct furmom!  We recently created an e-mail address for graduation letters: graduationletter@children.org.  It will get them to us and the kids quicker!

Missing user
March 3, 2019 in reply to debbies
I have tried to go to the graduation letter site, but get sent here.  How do I send a letter to Raymark?  I want him to get it in a timely manner.  If I mail it, it will take that much longer for him to receive.  I don't want him to think that I don't want to be in touch with him.  I do, but am not sure where to go to write him the letter.
Missing user
March 4, 2019 in reply to Missing user
I'm happy to clarify that graduationletter@children.org is not a website, it's an email address. You will need to write an email from your personal email account, then send the email to graduationletter@children.org. Hope this helps!
Missing user
June 27, 2020
Great, I have another year to go.  My sponsor child is turning 18 this year.
Missing user
July 2, 2020
I am so glad that CI offers the option for continuing to stay in touch.  I am doing this with one of my former sponsored children in the DR.  I don't know how long the stay-in-touch option has been available, but I have sponsored kids through CI since 1985-ish, and often wonder how my early children are doing.  I wish I had been able to stay in touch with some of them.
Kiyoshi
July 2, 2020 in reply to Missing user
@kabama you might try looking them up in social media & online. You never know!
Missing user
March 6, 2022
A young lady (Jennifer) I sponsored until she recently turned 19, recently graduated from the program.  I would like to write her a congratulatory note but was unable to do so because I could not understand nor follow your instructions on how to do so since she is no longer listed under my name.  Please send more defined instructions on how to accomplish such.
debbies
March 8, 2022 in reply to Missing user
@thehun46: Thanks for your feedback about how to write a final letter to your graduated youth, Jennifer. Rather than sending a letter via your MyCI account, you email it to graduationletter@children.org.  Thanks!
Missing user
April 5, 2022
I am so glad I came across this message board of Q&As. I will try to send a letter to my sponsored child who has graduated. Is it still possible to send a graduation letter to a graduate from last year? What information (Account #, ID #) do I place in the letter so I know it goes to the graduate? Thanks in advance.
Missing user
April 6, 2022 in reply to Missing user
Hi schavez2, great question! We can certainly try out best to deliver it. Email your letter to graduationletter@children.org , including your account number and the child ID number would be helpful. 
Missing user
April 17, 2022 in reply to Missing user
Thank you SO SO much. I sent the email with account number and Child ID #. Will I receive a notification from CI  stating that my letter was sent? I understand he is no longer in the program and that there is but so much that can be done. 
debbies
April 18, 2022 in reply to Missing user
Oh, we're so glad that you sent a final letter through CI to your graduated youth. When the letters arrive at the graduationletter@children.org mail box, our CIKC team moves them into each agency's digital folder. From there, the staff does their best to get the letters to the youth just as soon as they are able. Hope this info helps!
ifishforsouls
June 7, 2022 in reply to Missing user
RebekahW, huge thanks for efficaciously providing your input! I kept repeating the process of searching for a website. It started to feel like the movie Groundhogs day! (: Thanks again! 
Missing user
June 9, 2022
Dear Olga,

We are so happy to know you are doing well, you have such a supportive family, you are still able to keep in touch with your friends, and most importantly...you are now going to pursue your nursing career.

You are a beautiful young lady now, and your patients will be very lucky to have you as their nurse, for we can tell you are a very caring person also.

We wanted to wish you much happiness in your future.  We know you will do well!

With Love,
Jay and Anna Manwaring
barbmc
June 10, 2022 in reply to Missing user
You can't write to Olga  here. You need to go to the CI dashboard and click on the message center where it says "send a letter or card to your child" 
debbies
June 13, 2022 in reply to Missing user
@manwaring:  I know it can be tricky to determine who to send a final letter to your graduated youth. I've sent this letter to Olga through our email: graduationlettes@children.org for you. Thanks!
Missing user
August 1, 2022
Hello! Does anyone knows if the graduation is like an event where we can attend? My child is graduating soon and I think going to the graduation would be a great way to finally met! Thanks!
Missing user
August 2, 2022 in reply to Missing user
CI graduations can vary from agency to agency. In the past (pre-Covid), some sponsors were able to visit their child when they graduated from the program. However, we are still not arranging visits at this time, so right now this would not be possible. This might change in the future since Cristal still has a few years left in our program, so please keep an eye out on our website for any updates. :-) 
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