other hand were custodial schools for the rehabilitation and training of delinquent juveniles and youngsters. The Department of Children Services had (nine) 9 such schools in the country, with a capacity of 3,000 children (Ministry of Home Affairs and National Heritage, 1990). Kudrati et al., (2002) discourage these forms of interventions while acknowledging that in order to address the issue of street children effectively, both such long and short-term interventions are necessary. In addition, there should be a focus on preventive (rather than rehabilitative) solutions. For instance, ongoing provision of food, clothes, medicines, and shelter may even help to perpetuate the problem by making street life bearable and intensifying a child’s dependence on programs (Volpi, 2002). Despite their good intentions however, research has suggested that the Committees established are failing to function in a satisfactory manner due to lack of good leadership by the District Commissioners, lack of funds to hold scheduled or necessary meetings, repetitive agendas and lack of clarity of purpose. Other main flaws in these committees were seen to be their quasi-legal status and the absence of a decentralized child care operational budgets at District level (CSC, 2004). In 1998, the Department of Children Services established the Volunteer Children Officers system. The concept was piloted 2004 in seven (7) Districts. The volunteers Children Officers (VCOs) complement the work of children officers by providing supervisory services to children in need of care and protection and those in conflict with the law at the location/village level. The VCOs work under close supervision of the District Children’s Officers (DCOs). The VCO system however, has significantly been hampered by lack of funding, inadequate and systematic training to enhance their capacities in service delivery to children Under the National Alliance Rainbow Coalition (NARC) government (2003), The Office of the Vice President and Ministry of Home Affairs had the mandate to coordinate all children services as stipulated in the Children’s Act of 2001. The Government also set up the National Council for Children Services to oversee proper planning, financing, coordination and supervision of child welfare activities. Representatives are drawn from relevant government ministries, civil societies, private sector and religious organisations. At the district level these structures are called Area Advisory Councils (AACs). In 2008 the Government reorganized its ministries and the Department of Children Services was
other hand were custodial schools for the rehabilitation and training of delinquent juveniles and youngsters. The Department of Children Services had (nine) 9 such schools in the country, with a capacity of 3,000 children (Ministry of Home Affairs and National Heritage, 1990). Kudrati et al., (2002) discourage these forms of interventions while acknowledging that in order to address the issue of street children effectively, both such long and short-term interventions are necessary. In addition, there should be a focus on preventive (rather than rehabilitative) solutions. For instance, ongoing provision of food, clothes, medicines, and shelter may even help to perpetuate the problem by making street life bearable and intensifying a child’s dependence on programs (Volpi, 2002). Despite their good intentions however, research has suggested that the Committees established are failing to function in a satisfactory manner due to lack of good leadership by the District Commissioners, lack of funds to hold scheduled or necessary meetings, repetitive agendas and lack of clarity of purpose. Other main flaws in these committees were seen to be their quasi-legal status and the absence of a decentralized child care operational budgets at District level (CSC, 2004). In 1998, the Department of Children Services established the Volunteer Children Officers system. The concept was piloted 2004 in seven (7) Districts. The volunteers Children Officers (VCOs) complement the work of children officers by providing supervisory services to children in need of care and protection and those in conflict with the law at the location/village level. The VCOs work under close supervision of the District Children’s Officers (DCOs). The VCO system however, has significantly been hampered by lack of funding, inadequate and systematic training to enhance their capacities in service delivery to children Under the National Alliance Rainbow Coalition (NARC) government (2003), The Office of the Vice President and Ministry of Home Affairs had the mandate to coordinate all children services as stipulated in the Children’s Act of 2001. The Government also set up the National Council for Children Services to oversee proper planning, financing, coordination and supervision of child welfare activities. Representatives are drawn from relevant government ministries, civil societies, private sector and religious organisations. At the district level these structures are called Area Advisory Councils (AACs). In 2008 the Government reorganized its ministries and the Department of Children Services was
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