AS GOVERNMENT TOOL FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND YOUTH REHABILITATION

INTRODUCTION Bahay Tuluyan ng mga Bata sa Dasmarinas A residential institution established to provide care, protection and rehabilitation to girls ages 5 to 17 years old who are victims of sexual abuse (rape, incest, acts of lasciviousness, sexual exploitation) exploitation, abandonment, negligence and physical abuse and maltreatment. CLIENTELE Bahay Tuluyan provides residential services to girls who are 5 to 17 years of age and are victims of: Sexual Abuse – victims of rape, incest, acts of lasciviousness, sexual exploitation for money, profit or any other consideration or due to coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or group. Abandonment – child having been given up or left alone Neglect – child not given proper attention Physical Abuse / Maltreatment – receives cruelty, battering or any unreasonable deprivation of basic needs that demeans her physical

SERVICES OFFERED: Social Services - provides interventions geared toward strengthening the coping capacity of the client and restore or develop their social functioning. This includes better understanding and acceptance of the cause of the client’s placement at the center. Homelife Services - provision of a well-balance, organized and non- formal activities in support to the treatment and rehabilitation of the residents. Includes systematic home rules and regulations as therapeutic endeavour. Psychological & Psychiatric Services - provision of psychological treatment and rehabilitation especially for residents whose normal functioning are affected by the traumatic experiences. Spiritual Enhancement and Values Formation - activities that enhance the moral and spiritual development of the residents.

Recreational and other Socio-cultural activities - activities that promote self-esteem and social interaction among clients e.g. dancing, singing, theater arts, etc. Skills training activities - provides skills training activities on sewing, rug and bag-making among others. Aside from enhancing the rehabilitation of the client, each are designed discover and enhance client’s potential and creativity for future employment opportunities. Legal services - provision of legal services in the form of legal opinion, lawyer’s services or assistance through volunteer and retainer lawyers. Aftercare & follow up services - conducted in coordination with local social worker, it includes continuous assessment, regular monitoring of the clients progress at home and in the community. May also include provision of other necessary assistance to the family e.g. medical and livelihood assistance

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION Girls who are victims of the above stated abuses will be admitted to the Center provided that she is Free from any communicable / contagious disease; Does not possess any form of mental illness; Comes from any of the municipalities / provinces Has the following requirements: referral letter Social Case Study Report Birth Certificate Medical Certificate

PROFILE OF THE BAHAY TULUYAN 28 Minors in the Facility with ages ranging from 9 to 17 years of age Majority were molested by relatives e.g. foster father or step-father Most cases were reported by neighbors Incest is the most common crime 6 House Parents 4 Social Workers Funded by the National Government

Most come from poor families They follow a certain routine They engage in mostly recreational activities They stay from six months to one year depending on the gravity of cases Presence of Psychologists, Nutritionists and 24-hour security Relatives have limited visitation rights

CHALLENGES The lack of appropriate facilities Can still be productive members of society Are still normal members of society Address poverty How to bring perpetrators to justice Area is too small Expand maintenance and monitoring programs Expand the period of residence

LESSONS Volunteers needed in activities Awareness of victims Justice for perpetrators Constant monitoring of progress Constant understanding Vigilant citizens Importance of education Alert and vigilant authorities

LIMITATIONS Access to victims limited in terms of observation, conversation, interaction Immersion in the Bahay Tuluyan Comparison with other similar institutions Data on successful “graduates” Impact on other sectors of society Root cause of the problem Study on rehabilitation methods How to minimize victims

SUSTAINABILITY AND IMPACT Government is addressing such issues Less in Life, More in Law Everybody must contribute e.g. reporting, monitoring, donating, services Victims as contributors to society Enjoys support from academe Strengthen other government agencies as support Victims as achievers Total development of the individual

Presentor: Jose Aims R. Rocina Associate Professor De la Salle University-Dasmarinas, Cavite Philippines