The Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) has piloted the re-unification of children with their families, in its two Child and Youth Care Centers (CYCC's) and one run by NPO, by reuniting children with families which is where they belong.
This groundbreaking effort by the Department together with Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Hope and House for children in South Africa (HHCSA) means that children who need emergency care and support will still be admitted in the departmental institutions, however, the turnaround time of their stay will be limited to 6 months at a Temporary Safe Care Place as per the Child Act 38 or 2005.
Announcing this plan after the three-day One Child One Family Evidence Summit at St. Georges Hotel in Irene, Tshwane, Deputy Director-General (DDG) Onkemetse Kabasia quoted Chinese Philosopher Lao Tsu, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step".
The DDG cautioned though that, "However, if this process is not properly managed it could harm the very children that we are trying to protect. We must work systematically and collaboratively to reunite children with their families" within the prescripts of the law.
"For the past three days we have managed to agree that this is the way to go, however, the institutions which are our CYCC's will remain relevant as part of the Child Protection System as they operate within the confines of the law".
Kabasia also said that this process is one of the strategies to do away with long stays in institutions by children and the eradication of lapsed court orders by the department among others.
Lourenza Foghill from HHCSA assured that their "monitoring and evaluation is geared-up to protect the interest of a child in whatever is done, no child should be left behind because each individual child matters".
Eventually, children belong with families and communities, however, children with compromised social functioning must be provided with a service that offers them care and support in a safe and specialized setting should the family not be able to care for them. There is also the option of alternative families where immediate families have broken down.