Child Protection Week: Department hosts ECD organizations for engagement

To mark National Child Protection Week, the Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) hosted a registration support stakeholder engagement with 18 social service organizations (SSO) working in the Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector.

The Department has centralised the ECD registration process to head office, and now works with the 18 SSO to assist the ECD sector with the process of registration, training and capacity building.

This decision has freed up social workers based at our regional and local offices to focus on statutory services and community work, and not be burdened by the administrative requirements of ECD registration.

DSD has invested substantially into the ECD sector, with R336-million having been allocated for this financial year.

DSD provides subsidies to 53 325 children aged 0 to 4 years, at a growing network of 2805 organizations registered with the department under the Children’s Act to operate as ECD centres. The ECD sector plays an important role in child protection, by providing safe spaces for children in communities across the province.

As per the Act, the registration of ECD centres remains one of the most critical functions of the Department.

We require ECD facilities to be registered as this allows DSD to provide funding and inspections to ensure compliance with fire, health & safety aspects, as well as the quality of ECD curriculum.

In line with this year’s theme for Child Protection Week, “Child Protection is Everyone’s Responsibility”, every parent is responsible for checking on the registration status of their child ECD centre.

The public can locate their closest ECD centre or check on its registration by visiting any DSD local office or by contacting the DSD hotline on 0800 220 250.