Our Mission Statement
Our Vision
That children will not be abused anymore.
In our care, we can manage them effectively so as to promote their healing and stop further abuse.
Our Mission
We exist to minimize the secondary harm to children and their families when entering the child protection system by providing expertise, information and support in order to make their journey a healing one.
We provide a specialized, holistic service aimed at the prevention, identification, treatment and support of child victims of sexual crimes, as well as their families. To assist the Child Protection service network including Justice, Health, Social Services, Education and Safety and Liaison by providing expert evidence, training and practical assistance where necessary. To prevent the further victimization of children who have been abused.
About Us
The Teddy Bear Clinic for Abused Children emerged in response to crimes committed against children. It started in 1986 as a medico-legal outpatient facility of the Johannesburg Hospital and was connected to the University of the Witwatersrands Department of Paediatrics. In 2000 as a result of increasing needs we decentralized our services to Krugersdorp and Soweto.
Following this, based on requests for further decentralization from the departments of Health, Justice, Safety and Liason. We then initiated a multi-disciplinary team at the Nthabiseng Thutuzela Centre at Baragwanath Hospital, with the National Prosecuting Authority where we have an office at the Johannesburg Magistrates Court and with Safety and Liaison where we work within the Ikhaya Lethemba Structure.
In December 2002 we were registered as an NPO and in January 2003 as a Section 21 Company. Given the impact of crimes committed against children a great number of children need help. At Teddy Bear Clinic for Abused Children we have positively impacted on the lives of 10 132 lives per annum, through best practice methodology we address the essential & holistic needs of abused and traumatised children.
Our services are specialized, holistic services and are aimed at the prevention, identification, treatment and support of child victims of sexual crimes, as well as their families. Our research, training & advocacy component is widely recognised as making a meaningful contribution to the Child Protection Sector.
Achievements
- Awarded the Impumelelo 2008 Gold Award for innovative work in the fields of poverty reduction and community development
- Support from the Oprah Foundation
- High level lobby & advocacy using broad-based media. Our work is regularly flighted on SABC 3 and E-TV and we have extensive radio and newspaper coverage
Programmes
Medical
Comprises intake (psycho-social history), medical assessments, case management and emotional support. The Clinic team comprises medical doctors, a nursing sister, volunteer counsellors and a management team. At present, on average, four hundred new cases are attended to annually, at the four clinics currently held each week.
Therapeutic
In order to provide as close to a one-stop centre as possible, the clinic employed a Therapeutic Manager to provide forensic assessments, play therapy and support. As a result, children do not need to be referred beyond the organization unless criminal or statutory work is necessary, for which the Clinic provides support and consultation.
New initiatives which have arisen from this unit since 2000 are:
- The Support Programme for Abuse Reactive Children (SPARC), which is a youth justice initiative to divert young sex offenders (ages 7-14) away from the criminal justice system to a therapeutic programme
- Pre and Post HIV Test counseling for children who have been exposed to sexual violence
- We are providing social work assistance at Nthabiseng (Baragwanath) in Soweto
- Psychological assessments requested by the Courts
- Parenting programme for parents accused of common assault against their children (inappropriate discipline) and are first time offenders. This option is preferred to a criminal case and sentencing. (Currently only running at our Johannesburg Kids Court Support branche).
Kids Court Support Programme
Provides children and parents with skills, emotional support and knowledge in preparation for their appearance in court. We currently have three branches, one in Protea Court in Soweto, the Johannesburg Magistrates Court and another at the Krugersdorp Court.
Research, Training and Development
Of a predominantly medical nature, this is performed by the clinic on an ongoing basis. Training is also provided to those involved in the Child Protection field: the Child Protection Unit officers, social workers, psychologists, students, state prosecutors and lay counselors. Training is fundamental to outreach work and allows the Clinic to build the capacity of the community as well as the system at large. In addition, it makes people aware of the services offered and builds networking relationships and thus resources.
Formal Affiliations
- Gauteng Social Welfare Forum
- Gauteng Plan of Action for Children
- South African Professional Society on the Abuse of Children
- The South African Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
Goals and Objectives
Goals
To minimize the secondary harm to children and their families when entering the child protection system by providing expertise, information and support in order to make their journey a healing one.
Objectives
- To embrace the countries democratic principles and adhere to good practice in business and non-profit terms
- To provide expert medico-legal examinations, the necessary treatment, assessment, case management and support to survivors of child abuse within the criminal justice system
- To recognize the emotional impact of abuse on the child as well as their family, community and society at large
- To provide support and healing for the above
- To support children through the criminal justice process by providing information, guidance and advocacy
- To embrace restorative justice as a viable option for the treatment of youth sex offenders
- To recognize and deal with the multifaceted dynamics of HIV within the child sexual abuse context
- To recognize that capacity building within communities is an essential component of developmental work in the child protection field and facilitate this through training, consultation and support
- To continuously strive to keep abreast of current research and developments in the field and actively contribute to those within formal (tertiary academia) and informal (community-based organization development) structures
