Social Development to scale up community based prevention and early intervention services for vulnerable children
The Department of Social Development is mandated by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the Children’s Act (Act 38 of 2005) to provide services for the care and protection of orphans and vulnerable children, including child-headed households. In response to the growing number of orphans and vulnerable children due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the Department of Social Development partnered with the National Association of Child Care Workers (NACCW) to roll out a five-year intervention programme known as Isibindi, which means bravery or courage in isiZulu.
Isibindi is a community based child and youth care prevention and early intervention service that provides support to vulnerable children in their homes, at community level through safe parks and life skills programmes. The Isibindi Model deploys trained community-based child and youth care workers in communities in an innovative team outreach programme that provide developmental support to vulnerable children and families.
The model incorporates and builds on the model of family preservation and strengthening families as a first line of response in the care and protection of vulnerable children. Over the five-year roll out period, Isibindi Model has a strong evidence base in improving the well-being and educational outcomes for children, skills development and creation of job opportunities for the youth. The R1,2 billion investment has seen previously unemployed young people receiving accredited training in child and youth care, increasing the number of skilled professionals in the social sector.
The provision of accredited training has resulted in the professionalisation of the Child and Youth Care Work, which is now recognised as a standalone profession by the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP). Through this initiative, the Department has reached over 1 million children whose lives have been impacted positively.
One of the key successes of Isibindi Model was to ensure that vulnerable children remain in school. Child and youth care workers provide educational support by relieving them of household responsibilities, particularly for children in child-headed households. Through partnership with the Department of Basic Education and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), vulnerable children have accessed financial assistance to further their studies at universities and technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
Child protection and care remains a key focus of the Government of South Africa.
Currently, the Isibindi Model is implemented through 335 NGO partners in 367 sites. Following the successful roll out of this cost-effective and high-impact initiative on improving the well-being and educational outcomes of orphans and vulnerable children, the Department of Social Development intends to scale-up the Isibindi Model.
As part of this process, NACCW, the implementing agency of the Isibindi roll-out will officially handover the programme to the Department of Social Development.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the official handover ceremony organised as follows:
Date: Sunday, 17 February 2019
Time: 10h00-14h00
Venue: Birchwood
Members of the media will have an opportunity to interact with some of the beneficiaries and key partners in the programme.
Media can RSVP by contacting:
Jaconia Kobue
Cell: 063 249 5120
E-mail: JaconiaK@dsd.gov.za
Justice Malapane
Cell: 066 480 6849
E-mail: JusticeD@dsd.gov.za
NOTE: In line with the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Department of Social Development provides sign language interpretation and disability-friendly conference facilities.
Media enquiries:
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: LumkaO@dsd.gov.za
