Social Development

Designated Children Protection Organisations (DCPOs), such as Jelly Beanz Foundation, Valley Development, Child Line, Safe Line, and numerous other organisations, work in close collaboration with the Department to implement a range of child protection services and programmes as part of their basket of services targeting children, youth, and families across the Western Cape, throughout the year, including Youth Day:

1. Substance Abuse
2. Prevention and early intervention programmes aimed at addressing substance abuse include awareness campaigns at schools and within communities, life-skills programmes, individual and family counselling, support groups, and referrals to specialised treatment and rehabilitation services where necessary. Social workers also provide ongoing support to children, youth, and families affected by substance abuse to strengthen protective factors and reduce risk. Workshops on the rights of children are held in schools and adult groups to prevent the abuse of children in homes.
3. Education and awareness programmes and workshops on the effects of substance abuse, therapeutic interventions, and support services are offered to families and vulnerable groups affected by substance abuse. Education and awareness programmes also focus on the harmful effects of alcohol abuse and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and the relationship between substance abuse and maltreatment, adolescent behaviour, and the impact of family disintegration on the well-being and development of children and families.
4. Behaviour Modification Programmes, which include addressing substance abuse, behavioural challenges, and school dropout. Some organisations have a psychologist who provides psychometric testing and assessments to support adolescents experiencing challenges within mainstream schooling, enabling the identification of their specific needs and appropriate interventions required to prevent school dropout.
5. Support services for children displaying behavioural and emotional challenges. Parenting groups are also facilitated to support parents in their management of these behaviour challenges.
6. Life Skills & Development Group Work and Programmes include holiday programmes, teenage pregnancy & sexuality programmes, anti-bullying, cyber/internet safety, GBV awareness, Bright Star Programme, Boy/Girl Child Programme, and parenting programmes for teenage parents.
7. Substance Abuse Statutory Intervention and Support Services to children and their families on the existing caseloads of organisations.
8. Statutory services aimed at protecting and safeguarding vulnerable children and youth.
9. Transitional programmes for children exiting alternative care, which include career guidance and work-readiness. Support is also provided with applications for identity documents, compilation of curricula vitae (CVs), and online applications for further educational or job opportunities.
10. School-based substance abuse programmes are implemented through 11 funded organisations in areas such as Delft, Elsies River, Mitchells Plain. These programmes provide:
    1. Early identification of substance use among learners.
    2. Brief interventions and referrals for treatment.
    3. School-based psychosocial support services delivered by qualified social workers.
    4. Counselling, emotional support and awareness programmes.
    5. Peer mediation and conflict-resolution training to strengthen life skills and reduce the risk of substance abuse.
11. The Department also funds community-based treatment services and prevention programmes delivered in schools and communities.
12. Violence:

An integrated approach is implemented through school-based psychosocial support, substance abuse prevention, crime and violence prevention programmes, and youth development initiatives to address the interconnected challenges facing vulnerable young people. These programmes provide counselling, life-skills training, conflict-resolution support, family strengthening services, and skills development and work-readiness opportunities aimed at reducing substance abuse, preventing violence, improving employability, and keeping learners engaged in education.

1. Prevention Programmes include child abuse prevention awareness campaigns, parenting programmes, school-based safety initiatives, psychosocial support, counselling services, and statutory interventions where children are at risk of harm. Designated Child Protection Organisations (DCPOs) work in close collaboration with the South African Police Services (SAPS), Thutuzela Centers, schools, healthcare facilities, and other stakeholders regarding child abuse prevention and protection services, gender based violence (GBV), protective behaviour, and anti-bullying programmes to ensure the safety and protection of vulnerable children and young people in schools in addressing challenges of violence and promoting resilience to address school dropouts. These programmes seek to reduce the risk of gender-based violence by understanding gender base violence and gender roles, power in relationships, promoting positive attitudes, increasing awareness of available support systems, and encouraging non-violent conflict resolution.
2. Child Abuse Awareness Workshops increase awareness of the different forms of child abuse, warning signs, reporting mechanisms, and children's rights. These workshops aim to prevent violence against children and encourage early identification and intervention.
3. Body Safety Programmes equip children with knowledge and skills to identify unsafe situations, understand personal boundaries, recognise inappropriate behaviour, and seek help from trusted adults. This supports the prevention of sexual abuse and other forms of violence against children.
4. Teenage Sexuality and Healthy Relationships Programmes promote respectful relationships, consent, personal responsibility, communication skills, and healthy decision-making. These programmes contribute to the prevention of gender-based violence, sexual violence, and relationship conflict.
5. Life Skills Group Work Programmes cover relevant topics that include experiences and challenges that might affect school attendance and retention. These engagements seek to promote resilience, positive decision-making, and learner well-being, which support continued school engagement.
6. Learner Reporting System. This programme usually follows on from prevention and early interventions in schools and provides a safe system for learners to report violence in schools. Selected peer supporters are trained to be the link between learners and their educators. Learners can report any problem of violence (or other) to the peer supporter in a non-threatening way, making use of a colour-coded category of reporting. Peer supporters, therefore, do not have to listen to a problem, but are given the appropriate colour, and it is the educator who will then listen to the problem. Secondary trauma is thereby prevented, and confidentiality is maintained.
7. Unemployment

Although Designated Child Protection Organisations do not primarily provide employment services, they support youth development by assisting young people with career guidance, career-readiness activities, including CV preparation, online job searches and applications, grant and bursary applications, and applications to colleges, universities, and other training institutions.  The social workers also assist young people in accessing available community resources and opportunities aimed at improving employability and self-sufficiency. DCPOs also refer youth to skills development programmes, and collaborate with government departments, NGOs, and community organisations that offer training and employment opportunities.

4. School dropouts

DCPOs collaborate with the Western Cape Education Department to identify and support learners at risk of dropping out, provide psycho-social and family support services, address the underlying social challenges affecting school attendance, and facilitate appropriate referrals to address and ensure interventions related to educational and developmental challenges.

DCPOs also work collaboratively with DSD to refer vulnerable children and youth to relevant departmental programmes and services such as Youth Cafés, youth development initiatives, skills development opportunities, EPWP placements, and substance abuse services, ensuring a coordinated and integrated service response.

Social work interventions relating to school dropouts primarily focus on encouraging children and youth to remain in school, supporting those who have dropped out to re-enroll and continue their education, and engaging with parents and schools to monitor and promote regular school attendance.  In addition, a range of developmental, prevention, and support programmes are implemented throughout the year. Social workers engage with learners, families, and schools to identify barriers to education, such as poverty, neglect, abuse, behavioral challenges, substance abuse, and family instability. Appropriate support services and referrals are provided to encourage continued school attendance and prevent dropouts.