Quality in Alternative Care, International Conference Prague, 4 th April 2011

1. Quality in Alternative Care, International ConferencePrague, 4th April 2011 “Psycho-social interventions for learners with untreated trauma attending school in South Africa” GERT J JONKER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, THE BETHANY HOUSE TRUST

2. Presentation outline • Introductory remarks • Challenge to civil society • Bethany House • Programs • Overview RSA • Criminal justice perspective • Overview Program • Victim Empowerment

3. Introduction • Former President and elder statesman Nelson Mandela in his 1st State of the Nation address in 1994 said that: • “Our endeavours must be about the liberation of the women, the emancipation of the man and the liberty of the child...” • “And so we must, constrained by and yet regardless of the accumulated effect of our historical burdens, seize the time to define for ourselves what we want to make of our shared destiny”

4. The Bethany House Trust • Established 1998 • Children’s Charity (Supreme Court) • Non Profit Organisation (Dept. Social Development) • Public Benefit Organisation (Revenue Service) • Child Protection Agency (Children’s Act) • 40 000 beneficiaries p.a.

5. Introduction (cont) • Bethany House Programs • Residential Care • Child & Youth Development Centres • Children found in need of care • Children living & working on street • Cluster Foster Care

6. Introduction (cont) • Child Protection Services • Victim Empowerment • Child Witnesses • Investigations • Crisis Line • Substance Abuse Diversion

7. Introduction (cont) • Pregnancy Care Centre • Food Security

8. Background • National: • Total country population = 49.99m • Children <18 = 40% total population • 1% children live in child headed households • >1.4m children orphaned by HIV/AIDS • Gauteng Province • Child population = 3 297 332 (18% national) • 96% school going age (7-15 yrs) • >407 000 children living with ‘child hunger’

9. Background (cont) • Education: • Number schools national = 35 231 • Number children in school national = 14.2m • Crime: • 2009/10 – 2.1m crimes reported to police • 16 834 murders (965 children) • 68 332 sexual offences (27 417 children) • 197 284 assault (14 544 children) • 205 293 serious assault (12 062 children)

10. Project • Unique Public-Private Partnership • Bethany House & Dept. Basic Education • Commenced 2008 • Primary goal: ensure sustained, timely, professional psycho-social interventions for children with untreated trauma • Case management database application developed for scheduling and tracking of cases • Data derived utilised • in service planning – school system • welfare budgeting • Victim Profile

11. Why Psycho-Social Services? • High level of exposure to trauma • Low level therapeutic services available • Social Work & other ‘help’ professions = scare skill • 14 000 registered Social Workers • Approx. 8 000 in practise • High number learners presenting with educational fallouts • High number of incidents of deviant behaviour by learners in schools

12. Executive Summary • 8 Programs • 44 Schools • 2 188 Learners referred • 8 Therapists • 40 000 Therapy hours

13. Programs • Bereavement (10.7%) • Bullying (6.66%) • Chain Reaction Diversion (1%) • Child Survivor (2.35%) • Divorce / Separation (2.09%) • Emotional Intelligence (39%) • Low Self Esteem (12.47%) • Reality Check (6.26%)

14. Client Profile (age) • 2 188

15. Client Profile (gender) • 2 188

16. Client Profile (culture) • 2 188

17. Client Profile (language) • 2 188

18. Referral Reason • 45 primary reasons

19. Client Profile (community origin) • 2 188

20. Challenges • Language • Reluctance to report (educators) • Disruption of schooling • Budget Limitations • Safety of children • Safety of therapists

21. ‘Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail’ Contact: Gert J Jonker Chief Executive Officer Bethany House Trust Email: gertjonker@childincrisis.org.za