Children also play sports and are taught to sing and to do arts and crafts. Wherever possible, Casa Alianza works directly with families to help them resolve problems. This is in line with a program launched in 1991 to help reunite street children with their families. The program has resulted in an average of 15 children a month returning to their families. Financed 100 percent by the Social Investment Fund, the program has become a model for child-care services in other Latin American countries.
Families move slowly but steadily through the program.
The program's success depends on parents' willingness to take the time to learn what it takes to have a solid family life. But if it is possible, reuniting children and parents is considered the best solution because it takes the child back to the real world, whereas life at the simulated homes, though valuable, has many shortcomings. The program helped reunite Daysi and her mother. Reuniting them took about two years. The program encouraged Daysi and her mother to forgive each other for what had happened and to try and remember the good things about their relationship.