Every child deserves to grow up in the safety and warmth of a loving home. Yet for many children, life takes a different path—one that leads them to Child and Youth Care Centre’s such as ours. At Durban Child and Youth Care Centre (DCYCC), we believe in the importance of family. Families are meant to provide emotional care, nurture a sense of belonging and identity, encourage learning, support growth, and help build social connections for children. Because of this Family Preservation remains a top priority for our organisation, and that’s why whenever it is safe, we do everything in our power to help children return to their families.
During their time with us, our child and youth care team works closely with the children as well as with their families. Through our Parental Support programme, we work with parents through their challenges, help them see what needs to change, and support them as they take positive steps forward to make their home a safe space once more. Every year, we have the opportunity to witness some of these beautiful transformations take place. These precious achievements remind us why we do this work and motivate us to keep going.
The success of family reunification is made possible only through the passion and dedication of our child and youth care team, our social workers and child and youth care workers, along with the support of many key players in the Child Care Sector. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Department of Social Development and the Child Welfare Agencies who walk this journey with us. This joint commitment helps us change lives!
As the holiday season approaches, emotions in our Centre run deep. For some children, there is excitement as they prepare to return home whilst others are left with disappointment and longing because they have no one or nowhere to go to.
The following our examples of some of the things our child care team do to help our children cope during this emotional time:
- Listen actively; focussing on the child and calmy listening without judgment when they want to talk.
- Validate their feelings; by letting them know that their emotions are real and valid.
- Maintain stability; by sticking to the set routines children continue to feel safe when expressing deep feelings.
- Teach coping skills; by helping them pause, breathe, identify and name what they are feeling.
- Use distraction techniques; when necessary, encourage activities that take their mind off the upsetting thoughts for short periods.
- Encourage physical activity, since physical activity can be a healthy way to release stress.
- Encourage creative outlets; by suggesting expression journaling, writing stories, drawing, dancing, or listening to music.
Most importantly is letting our children know that when their feelings threaten to overwhelm them, we are there right beside them; to hold them, talk with them, and walk it through with them.