Child Protection Services
Child Protection Services: Child protection & statutory services and permanency planning in respect of abandoned, orphaned and young children who are at risk and without permanent alternative care
As a country we are confronted with large numbers of children who are at risk and without permanent family care which is one of the core rights of a child. The child protection services we render are aimed at ensuring that children remain with birth families where possible. When this is not possible we will legally intervene and give children access to nurturing environments whilst in temporary care pending completion of a thorough assessment, ensuring that their right to permanency are addressed through the most empowering and least restrictive placement.
The child protection services we render include:
Family Preservation
- Identify children at risk
- Risk assessment
- Developing intervention plan
- Support & referrals.
Crisis Pregnancy Intervention
- Providing Option counselling for birth mothers experiencing an unplanned/crisis pregnancy
- Provide information re legal rights and
- General support of clients and connecting to resources: accommodation, provision of birth packs, transport etc.
Statutory intervention in accordance with the Children’s Act
- Assess circumstances and remove children in need of care and protection
- Opening of children’s court enquiries
- Investigate and compile permanency plans for children & legal finalization.
Temporary Safe Care
- Recruitment and screening safe care parents and facilities
- Support & Statutory services
Family Reunification & Alternative Care
- Building the capacity of the birth parents to care for the child through support , counselling and parent education
- Building the relationship between parent(s) and child through monitored visits
- Link parents with community resources and grants
- Monitor, supervise, support and evaluate the process and outcome
Foster Care Placement (longer term placement)
- Identify children in alternate care who require foster care placement with extended family or unrelated foster care
- Screen and prepare foster parents
- Supervise and monitor the foster placement & facilitate reunification services to birth parents with the aim to return their child to their care should it be in the best interest of the child