Welcome to Melrose Home.
Melrose Home is a residential home offering round-the-clock care and support to children and youth aged 7 to 21 years old who are facing family adversity or child protection issues.
For donations, CSR, volunteering & partnership opportunities
- 35 Boon Lay Avenue, Singapore 649962
-
+65 6970 0980
(Mon-Fri: 9am-6pm) - [email protected]
At Melrose Home, we provide a trauma-informed care environment for our children and youth, enabling them to build meaningful relationships and embark on a journey towards healing and growth.
With a compassionate team of caseworkers, guidance officers, unit leaders, and support staff, we are dedicated to guiding our children and youth on their path to healing, with the goal of reuniting them with their families or reintegrating them into their community.
Every child under our care has endured adverse childhood experiences, leading to unresolved trauma symptoms. Through our specialised care and dedicated programmes, we foster an environment that cultivates their sense of safety, empowering them to become independent and collaborative individuals.
A Place of Trust,
For The Body
Care & Stability
What is the background of the children and youth at Melrose Home?
Our diverse group of children and youth, aged 7 to 21, includes both boys and girls hailing from various ethnic and religious backgrounds. It’s important to note that they are not orphans; however, they have endured challenging family circumstances, such as abuse or neglect, and cannot be placed safely in the community.
How do the children and youth end up at Melrose Home?
Our children and youth are referred by the Ministry of Social & Family Development. They have gone through adverse circumstances such as abuse or neglect, and need intervention to be removed from their homes or families due to safety reasons.
What happens when a child/youth is removed from their home?
When a child/youth is removed from their home, the following steps are taken:
- Firstly, kinship care is explored, where the child/youth is placed under the care of relatives. This option is prioritised as it allows the child/youth to maintain their identity and connections with their family and continue to live in the community.
- If kinship care is not available or feasible, the next consideration is foster care. Foster care provides a familial environment where foster parents can offer safety, stability in caregivers and shelter, nurturing the child’s development.
- In cases where foster care is not suitable or viable, residential care, such as Melrose Home, is considered. This option is intended for children and youth with higher emotional and behavioural needs, who may require more targeted, intensive and specialised interventions.
Do the children and youth at Melrose Home still go to school?
Like any other child or youth in Singapore, the children and youth at Melrose Home attend school and participate in normal school activites. However, they return to Melrose Home after school hours. On weekdays, they engage in various activities, including tuition and therapy sessions, after completing their school hours.
Some of the children and youth are granted home leave during weekends and school holidays, but only if their home environment has been assessed as safe for their return.
What are adverse childhood experiences?
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) refer to potentially traumatic events that occur during an individual’s childhood that can undermine their sense of safety, stability, and bonding.
Examples of ACEs include growing up in a household with:
- Violence, abuse or neglect
- Family members struggling with addiction or substance abuse problems that interferes with caregiving responsibilities
- Mental health concerns within the family
- Instability due to parental conflict or abrupt departures of household members due to death, imprisonment or abandonment
It’s important to note that this list is not exhaustive, as many other traumatic experiences can also significantly impact a person’s health and wellbeing.
What are the impacts of adverse childhood experiences?
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have profound and long-lasting impacts on individuals, both physically and emotionally. Research has shown that individuals who have experienced ACEs may face a higher risk of various physical and mental health issues later in life. Some of the common impacts of ACEs include:
- Physical health issues
- Mental health problems
- Social and relationship difficulties
- Emotional regulation issues
- Cognitive and learning difficulties
- Increased risk of revictimisation
- Substance abuse and addiction
Appropriate support and interventions can significantly improve outcomes for individuals who have experienced adverse childhood experiences.
How can I support Melrose Home?
You can support us by:
- Funding the operational and manpower cost at Melrose Home
- Volunteering with us
- Contributing to our Melrose Village Building Project