Social Infrastructure

Welfare Overview

Updated: April 2006

Objectives

The ARP's Welfare initiative seeks to promote a socially stable community in Alexandra that enjoys a viable and sustainable quality of life, through the provision of integrated and well coordinated welfare and social development services.

Details follow below

Co-ordination and integration of welfare services

• Improving accessibility of welfare services through the development of a management plan and database of service providers.

• Promoting co-operative governance within Government and between Government and civil society.

• Transformation and ongoing capacity development of social service workers.

Preventing social disintegration and promoting people driven development:

• Communication and information dissemination.

• Supporting community participation through the establishment of a volunteer programme.

Integrating community based care initiatives into child and family support services:

• Welfare and Development Services for Children between the ages of 0 and 14 years will be targeted.

Supporting the development of a national strategy to respond to youth criminality and youth unemployment:

• Responding to the needs of marginalized youth through education and support programmes for skills development and employment creation.

• Responding to the needs of youth in conflict with the law through the establishment of a one-stop youth justice centre and anti-gang programmes.

Responding to the impact of violence against women and children:

• Provision of support facilities such as community safe houses, a trauma centre, foster care and bridging programmes.

• Prevention through education and support programmes focusing on issues of rape and gender sensitivity.

Dealing with alcohol and drug abuse:

• Facilitation of support programmes.

• Effective referral strategies to rehabilitation facilities.

Supporting intergenerational and multigenerational programmes

• Conversion of the Itlhokomeleng old age home into a dedicated frail care facility.

• Provision of outreach services for the aged as part of the hostel upgrading programme.

• Facilitating service centres to support home based care for the aged.

Promoting the human rights and economic development of people with disabilities

• Ensure the availability and structural accessibility of housing for people with disabilities (this includes physically disabled and mentally challenged people).

• Facilitation of support and self-help groups.

• Transformation of Nokuthula Protective workshop into a viable business venture.

Promoting the strategy of sustainable livelihoods

• Facilitation of self help groups.

• Skills development and training programmes.

Provision of community based care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS

• Incorporating children infected and affected by HIV / AIDS into existing foster care and support programmes.

• Provision of home care services for child-headed households.

• Co-ordination with health care workers for provision of counselling and support for people living with HIV.

• A peer facilitator programme.

• Incorporating sexuality awareness and education into early childhood development programme.

• Incorporating an initial intake and referral programme for abandoned babies with HIV into frail care and hospice facilities.