Government-funded programmes and services for vulnerable - Unicef

This review of governmentfunded
programmes for
vulnerable children was
undertaken as part of a fiveyear
study to understand
how factors at the household, community, and policy
levels interact to affect the wellbeing of children living
in conditions jointly burdened by HIV/AIDS and poverty.
One of the questions it asks is what affects whether and
how families utilise services.
The review outlines policies and provisions for
vulnerable children and families by all relevant
government departments – health, education, housing,
social development, safety and security, justice and
others. For the first time in one place, it sets out the legal
and policy framework ensuring the provision of services
for vulnerable children, a service map for each
department, delivery mechanisms and service providers.
This is an invaluable resource for everyone working to
improve the health and wellbeing of children and families
through the fulfilment of those human rights guaranteed
by the Constitution of South Africa.
The review was done by Patricia Martin of Advocacy
Aid and former Director of the Alliance for Children’s
Entitlement to Social Security (ACESS). A lawyer by
training, Pat is an expert on the socio-economic policies
and laws affecting children.
The study, called SIZE, The Wellbeing of South African
Children, is being undertaken by a team of researchers
from the Human Sciences Research Council in South
Africa and New York University in the United States, in
collaboration with colleagues from research, government
and civil society, both local and international. Funding
for the study has been provided by the National Institute
of Child Health and Development, the Rockefeller Brothers
Fund and the University of California at Los Angeles.