Children of Heroes Charity Fund Changes Its Approach to Supporting Families: Launching a Case Management Program

Starting in February 2025, the Children of Heroes Charity Fund is introducing a new approach to supporting families—a case management program designed to provide more effective and comprehensive assistance tailored to the individual needs of each family.

Until now, the Fund has been providing emergency aid in the form of one-time payments or material support to families facing difficult life circumstances. While this approach helped address urgent needs quickly, it did not always take into account the long-term challenges families face.

Why Is the Fund Changing Its Approach?

After analyzing its experience and gathering feedback from beneficiaries, the Children of Heroes Charity Fund concluded that one-time assistance does not provide long-term stability. Many families continue to face new challenges without the necessary resources to overcome them.

“We want our support to be not just temporary, but systematic and long-lasting. The case management program will allow us to take a comprehensive approach to each family, guiding them toward programs that best meet their current needs and help build a stable foundation for the future,” says Anna Khomenko, Director of the Children of Heroes Charity Fund.

What Will Change?

The introduction of the case management program will allow the Children of Heroes Charity Fund to:

• Identify the specific needs of each family and find the best solutions tailored to their situation.
• Connect families with relevant programs, offering not only financial assistance but also access to medical services, legal consultations, psychological support, and other essential resources.
• Provide long-term support, helping families stabilize their situation and adapt to new life circumstances.

How Did Case Management Help a Family from Kryvyi Rih Rebuild Their Lives After Loss?

On November 11, 2024, the lives of a young family from Kryvyi Rih changed forever. An enemy missile destroyed their apartment. The mother of a beneficiary of the Children of Heroes Charity Fund recalls:

“We survived only because we moved to the hallway just in time after the air raid warning. The children’s room, where we had been just minutes before the strike, no longer exists. Among the rubble, we found fragments of the missile—pieces that could have killed us. At that moment, I was ready to walk away with nothing but a bag of documents and leave everything behind. But my husband’s friends and our neighbors helped us save at least something. Now we have to start over, but I know that my daughter and I will find the strength to move forward, keeping the bright memory of her father and his love for us alive.”

The family joined the Children of Heroes Charity Fund on June 10, 2024, while facing severe financial hardship. Olena was working part-time, earning only 6,800 UAH per month. Her daughter, Varvara, who had just started fifth grade, didn’t even have a device for online learning.

Thanks to the Case Management Program, the Fund quickly responded to the family’s needs by providing support in three key areas:

• Psychological support – Immediate crisis assistance was provided to help the family cope with emotional challenges.
• Humanitarian aid – The beneficiary received a food package, school supplies, and a sports uniform from the Fund. The family was also provided with clothing and essential household items.
• Financial assistance – The family received funds for urgent needs, including rent, a desk and chair, a laptop for school, and a power station.

In addition, another family from the Children of Heroes Charity Fund stepped in to help by gifting the girl a pajama set, colorful pens, a pencil case, and other small but meaningful items that brought her comfort during this difficult time.

This story is a clear example of how the Case Management Program goes beyond just financial aid. The Fund prioritizes urgent needs through its existing programs first and then, if necessary, supplements them with financial support.

The Children of Heroes Charity Fund remains committed to ensuring that every child who has lost one or both parents due to the war receives not only immediate assistance but also the opportunities needed for a stable and fulfilling future.