​This week is Child and Youth Care Week, from 1 – 7 May. This is a week we observe and acknowledge the work done by all in protecting and looking after vulnerable children in our society. 
This year’s celebrations are held under the theme “Advancing the professional development of child and youth care workers”. 

This theme refers to the process of providing support and growth opportunities to professionals who work with children and youth in care settings. 

This could involve offering training, education, mentoring and other related resources to help Chid and Youth Care Workers to enhance their skills, knowledge, and ability. 

This will ensure that these workers have the necessary tools and expertise to provide effective care and support to the children and youth in their care. 

According to Wikipedia Child and Youth Care (CYC) is a profession which focuses on the developmental needs of children and families within the space and time of their daily lives. Child and Youth Care is primarily a way of working with other practitioners and can be found in a variety of roles including direct care, private practice, educator, trainer, writer, supervisor, manager, researcher, and more. They are sometimes known as Child and Youth Workers, Child and Youth Counselors or Youth Workers. There are strong connections around the world between Child and Youth Care. 

In simple terms, these workers provide care that ensures that the most vulnerable children in Child Youth Care Centres are always kept neat, live in clean and attractive buildings and facilities. They also provide a caring, stable, consistent and structured environment for children; to meet a child’s physical, emotional, social, spiritual, educational and cognitive growth. These centres are affectionately known as children’ s home.

Child and youth care work has been a regulated social service profession in South Africa under the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978 since October 2014. Thus, no person is allowed to practice as a Child and Youth Care Worker or Auxiliary Child and Youth Care Worker without being registered with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP).
 
Child and youth care work is also registered as a professional designation with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) under the ambit of the SACSSP. 

Child protection, care and safety remains a priority for the Gauteng Provincial Government, thus ensuring that children in need of care and protection are placed in safe environment. As a department we also salute those that ensure that this is realised. 

The work done by these caregivers is somewhat not getting enough recognition as they play a key role of mother to the vulnerable children, a mother just like a hen that keeps a watch over their little ones around the clock, and it is one of the most difficult and yet fulling tasks. As Social Development we would like to say your work does not go unnoticed. 

As of 31 March 2022, more than 200 child and youth care workers were registered with the SACSSP as professionals. Furthermore, 8,358 child and youth care workers were registered as auxiliary. The profession continues to grow, and a total 4055 are registered with the council as students in child and youth care work. 

We applaud Child Youth Care Workers in our department’s institution, including those in Non-Profit Organisations and everywhere they practice. These are champions in our child and youth care centre. They continue to be champions of hope in our schools and communities.