Question NW3706 to the Minister of Social Development

Reply:

a) The Community-Based Prevention and Early Intervention Programme is effective as the programme is designed in a manner that facilitates early identification of vulnerable children through home visits conducted by auxiliary child and youth care workers who uses the assessment tool (Ungubani) that has seven domains to identify the level of risk a vulnerable children is exposed to. Upon identification of risks, the child(ren) are referred to drop-in centres where interventions informed by the seven domains of the programme are rendered to children and their families for purposes of building their resilience. Schools also act as referral point to Social Workers and Drop-in centres through the implementation of Integrated School Health Programme. Drop-in centres which are access points for the community-based prevention and early intervention programme provides psychosocial support and educational support to improve academic performance and this has been demonstrated by the improved academic performance including matric results. Children are encouraged to remain in school until matric, and those who continue with tertiary education are also supported. The effectiveness of the programme is also demonstrated in the implementation of prevention and early intervention services directed towards individual family members, improving interpersonal relationship, whilst building resilience of children and families. The programme has reached 222 152 by the end of the second quarter of 2023/2024 Financial Year.

b) According to the Guidelines for Community -Based Prevention and Early Intervention Services to Vulnerable Children, the ratio for identified vulnerable children to number of available professionals is as follows:

1:47 for qualified Auxiliary Child and Youth Care Workers; and

1:24 for learner Child and Youth Care Workers.