This service is for families who are faced with various challenges and need support to function well
Risk factors within the family situation can leave families vulnerable and unable to fulfill their roles and responsibilities toward family members. The HIV and AIDS pandemic, for example, have a socio-economical impact on families and communities and can lead to family disintegration.
Families need support to be able to provide supportive environments to family members, especially orphans, girls and boys infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Family Preservation programmes and services to address the needs of these families need to be in place.
Conditions for services to families are that the primary focus of services should be on prevention and early intervention in order to strengthen family life.
Family services are provided by Non-profit Organisations and government
service providers and they include:
- Counseling
- Marriage preparation and enrichment
- Parental programs to promote family stability and long term commitment of family members
Who should apply?
- Families who are faced with challenges such as HIV and AIDS and need support to function optimally.
Steps to follow:
- Contact a provincial family coordinator, Non-governmental Organisation or social worker nearest to you.
- A social worker will assess your circumstances and provide you with the necessary information and assistance.
- Removal of a family member may be recommended.
Standard services:
- Services to families should be delivered taken into consideration the legislative framework and policy prescripts that guide the day-to-day living of families and their members.
- The role of the social worker and Non-governmental organisations as well as childcare workers/ auxiliary workers/volunteers: The social worker:
- provides preventative services (counseling services, marriage preparation and enrichment and parental programs) to promote family stability and long term commitment of family members to the family
- identifies risk factors within the family and community that impact on families and to negotiate a family specific plan of action in close cooperation and participation with each family to address the challenges they are facing
- coordinates services to families to ensure integrated service delivery to families
- delivers intense family support (early intervention services) to families at risk in order to prevent family disintegration and/or the removal of a child/family member
- embarks upon statutory processes when family members are in need of care and protection and/or rehabilitation
- to delivery tertiary prevention services (Residential/alternative care/reconstruction and after care) and reunification services to ensure the reunification of families
Non-Governmental Organisations to provide services (including all three levels of intervention) and resources to strengthen families to be able to carry out there family responsibilities
The business sector to play a supportive role, firstly to the family of their employees and secondly, to implement workplace programmes to enhance and support family life
FBO’s to provide a social structure to families to facilitate the availability of religious, social and material support and to provide for a moral framework to guide the instilling of morals and values within the family and the spiritual development of family members
Child Care Workers/ Auxiliary Social Workers and volunteer to provide family care and support to families and to be a support system to the social worker for effective
Cost:
The service is free.
With thanks from South African Government Services
