National ECD Conference East London 26 – 30 March 2012

Who is FCW FCW is a development & resource ECD organisation that promotes the holistic development of children within the context of their families and communities, through innovative, integrated and sustainable programmes

Family in Focus (FIF) Family in Focus is an ECD strategy that seeks to reach out to young children and their caregivers who lives in poor and marginalised communities where there are limited resources for the care and stimulation of young children.

FIF COMMITTEE COMMUNITY CONSULTATION PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION PARENTING PROGRAMME HOME VISITING PROGRAMME CBO’sNGO’sFBO’s Crime Violence Unemployment AtlantisAthlone Beaufort West Caledon Worcester Mitchells PlainDelft MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE Locally recruited and trained home visitors supporting families with young children. Daily visits to participating families Weekly Parenting workshops with Parents/Caregivers OudtshoornPaarl Poverty FAMILY IN FOCUS MODEL

Parenting Programmes:Home Visiting ProgrammeCommunity Ownership Family in Focus operates from the premise that parents are the first and best teachers of their own children. The parent training serve to build and support social networks for parents and to share information around parenting and early childhood development. The training make use of adult education and experiential learning techniques that acknowledge parents' previous experiences and cultural practises and builds on inherent positive parenting skills. Parent training consist of bi-monthly workshops that are held to enable parents to provide age-appropriate activities that facilitate the holistic development of their children and to create an environment of learning and nurturing in the home. Home-visiting entails trained Home Visitors meeting with parents directly in their homes, or with groups of parents and their children to facilitate stimulating, age appropriate activities that parents can do with their children using resources found in and around the home. Home visits are an essential and ongoing activity of the programme. These visits are closely monitored and supported by local Project Co-ordinators. Each Family in Focus Community Project start as a joint effort between the community and FCW in response to local needs. The aim is for each community to ultimately take ownership of the process and outcomes of the Family in Focus Project. Through a process of community consultation parents and other community stakeholders are encouraged to form a coalition or committee that acts as a governance structure. FCW provides each Family In Focus Project with governance training and support to manage their project.

Aim of the FIF Programme To serve as a strategy for ECD intervention in impoverished communities To assist primary caregivers and women in particular, to form groups in order to support each other To create a cadre of cost effective ECD workers who provide support to children’s parents and other family members

Objectives of the Programme To encourage the practice of good neighbourliness as the underlying ethos to mobilise community-based interventions To support communities in the development of informal helping strategies to deal with childcare, abuse and HIV/AIDS To mobilise the community around the needs of young children

How does the Home Visiting Programme work? FIF is based on a partnership approach with local communities Through consultation the community identify suitable home visitors who are trained in an accredited ECD skills programme. Each Home Visitor must recruit at least 35 families/households to work with. Each family/caregiver is visited at least once per week for about 2 hours. Several ideas and stimulating activities are shared with the caregivers to practice with their children.

Facilitating Integration Networking with local organisations (NGOs, CBOs FBOs, Civics) Regular meetings and consultation with stakeholders. Involve clinics, schools, social workers, health care workers and local ECD Forum members. Actively encouraging support for Home Visitors. Home Visitors are encouraged to refer & support other service professionals.

Making a case for Out of Centre Programmes Challenges in the Western Cape About 2000 unregistered ECD sites across the province (70% in the metro) Quality provision is lacking in more than 50% of ECD sites (HSRC study) Capacity at management level at ECD sites remain basic, with few understanding their management & oversight responsibilities More than 50% of principals/teachers have no experience or formal training in ECD

What is the link with FIF Are we reaching enough children outside of preschools? Are we providing the quality that will make a difference? How do you know that our programme is adding value?

District MunicipalitiesNo. of familiesNo. of children 0-6yrsHome Visitors Central Karoo District Beaufort West &Laingsburg Eden District Municipality Oudtshoorn, Ladismith & Uniondale Overberg District Municipality Caledon,Baardskeerdersbos Gansbaai, Stanford Cape Winelands District Saaron, Franschhoek, Wellington Paarl, Klapmuts Cape Winelands District Ceres & Worcester Cape Town Metro South Mitchell’s Plain Cape Town Metro Central Athlone Cape Town Metro North Atlantis Cape Town Metro North Delft TOTALS

What it takes to become a Home Visitor Make a personal commitment. Decide that you can do something to affect the future of children and families, never assume that someone else is doing something about the problems. Stay focused. Know what you hope to accomplish – a better life for children, families and society. Become informed. Know the facts about young children’s needs and how families can be supported in the development of their children. Connect with organizations that offer training to develop your own skills. Respect and value diversity. No family is perfect. Treat all families with respect and help them to recognize their abilities. Network. Connect with existing groups that share your goals. Become a member of your local ECD Forum. Stay involved. Find things to do that feels right for you and make sure that what you do really make a difference. Celebrate progress. Stay informed about the facts. Rejoice when you notice positive change. Spread the word about how families and children have grown stronger. Offer thanks to people who have helped and supported your efforts

Contact Details Foundation for Community Work PO Box 89 Lansdowne 7779 Ph: