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We make every effort to reunite children with their parents or extended family members in a well-functioning family environment.
Our approach is informed by the firm belief that long-term institutional care should be avoided at all costs, as children who grow up in families in the community develop better social and emotional relationships, form a stronger self-image, and develop the skills they will need to succeed as adults.
We therefore work extensively with the family, providing them with vital support services and parenting skills training programmes. We monitor the family’s progress through regular visits, and, as soon as we are satisfied that the family is ready, children begin spending time at home. At first, this takes the form of short, supervised visits, which are then extended to weekend and holiday placements, and culminate in the child’s permanent return home.
To help ensure the success of placements, we provide follow-up and support services for children and their families for at least six months after children have left our care. These services include:
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Visiting the family regularly (and follow-up phone calls);
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Helping family members find employment;
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Helping families with their material needs (food parcels and clothing);
Notwithstanding our best efforts, reunification does not always succeed. In such instances, we seek placements for children with organisations that provide long-term care.
Our family preservation model continues to enjoy tremendous success and growth. Last year, for example, a total of 22 family meetings were held to discuss interventions and reunification plans, with as many as seven children successfully reuniting with their parents or with extended family members.
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