Edenvale Child Welfare

For many years its focus was simply to help those families that, due to loss of jobs, loss of one or more parents, or alcoholism , needed support. The organisation provided food, clothing, legal advice and even temporary accommodation if required. However, over the years, as the face of Edenvale has changed, so has the organisation, and with the new 1994 dispensation, it was tasked as the official NGO to handle social welfare matters in Edenvale and surrounding areas by the new South African Government.

The organisation's work is mainly amongst families and children ‘at risk’, mainly referred to us by the SAPS, teachers or parents.

The community outreach programme (a social worker is in attendance at five primary schools in Edenvale on selected days of the week for consultation) has proved beneficial at identifying problems whilst these are still manageable, and in providing counselling on issues including child neglect, abandonment, drug or alcohol abuse and child abuse.

Social workers work closely with the Department of Social Development and the SAPS in resolving family crises as well as intervening when required. They are called upon to place children in foster homes or to arrange adoptions. These placements require regular monitoring and reports; again, part of the social workers’ work load.

In 1988, recognizing the need for low cost day care for children of low income families, the organisation opened the Pinocchio Crèche, now Pinocchio Educare Centre, which is permitted to accommodate 51 children between the ages of 3 and 6 years of age.

In return for services rendered, and upon submission of the relevant reports and substantiating documentation, the organisation receives an annual subsidy from the Department of Social Development which covers a portion of the salaries and administrative costs. Thus we must also depend on contributions from the public, school fees, local schools, Lotto funding and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality awards in order to maintain these services.

Child Welfare SA - Edenvale (our official name) is affiliated to Child Welfare South Africa, and is an important and integral part of the Edenvale community. It does its work quietly and efficiently behind the scenes and because of the confidential nature of its services, very little, if anything, is ever brought before the public eye.