Department of Social Development encourages carers to use parenting programmes

This Women’s Month and 365 days of the year, the Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) encourages parents in the province to use the various parenting programmes offered by the Department.  The family unit, which may include extended family, and other support systems, are the foundation on which society is built. If we want a healthy society, we need to invest in our families and equip them with the necessary skills to ensure their well-being.

When families receive the necessary support early on, it’s possible that statutory intervention – like the removal of children - can be prevented, and the family preserved. In a healthy family environment, children learn unconditional love, understand right from wrong, and learn empathy, respect and self-regulation. These qualities help them to engage positively at school, at work, and in society in general.

In the Western Cape, 45.5 percent of children live with both parents, 37.8 percent of children live with a single parent, and 13.7 percent live with neither of their parents (General Household Survey, 2021).

The Western Cape Minister for Social Development, Sharna Fernandez, said: “We recognise that the stability of the family unit plays an integral role in a child’s well-being and development. More often than not, some single mothers and fathers, or any family with vulnerable children, experience complex challenges that require suitable and appropriate interventions. We encourage all parents who feel they need support, or even just want to check, to use the Department’s parenting programmes and other social services for families.”

The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD), with the support of its Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) partners, provides families and children with access to a wide array of social welfare services that focuses on the well-being of the family, believing this to be critical for the overall functioning of society.

The Department works specifically with vulnerable or at-risk families and communities to provide services aimed at building on the strengths of children, parents, caregivers, families and communities. During the 2021/22 financial year, 19 563 families participated in family preservation and support services being offered by the Department and its NPO partners.

“ As a Department committed to working FOR YOU, we are striving to build strong and deeply connected families that live in safe and secure communities,” concluded Minister Fernandez.

Contact number and further information:

If anyone requires any form of family support services, please contact us on our hotline on 0800 220 250, to be connected to your nearest local office.

We urge the public to access credible information on https://www.westerncape.gov.za/department-of-health/coronavirus

For more information about our other services, please refer to the Western Cape Department’s Website below:

https://www.westerncape.gov.za/dept/social-development