Creating A Positive Future

19th Annual Report 2015 “South Africa excels in many endeavours; for example Our Mission academically, on the sports field, Through primary prevention and in medicine, the arts and in science. positive parenting we aim to: We also have quality non-profit

organisations working in communities i. Facilitate the safety and emotional towards a better life for all. development of the child from conception till The Parent Centre is one such early adulthood. world-class organisation. ii. Promote involved and nurturing Their programmes are motherhood and fatherhood. innovative, affordable and appropriate and make a iii. Promote the well-being and self-esteem of parents/caregivers. significant difference in

the lives of families and iv. Prevent child abuse, victimisation and children. Every day dedicated neglect. and committed staff go out and make an impact v. Contribute to the prevention of teenage pregnancy, substance abuse. in our communities, living the Mandela legacy”. vi. Enhance the child’s capacity to be a resilient, caring, competent and creative ERIC ATMORE member of society. Adjunct Associate Professor, vii. Encourage the establishment of a loving, Department of Social Development nurturing environment that strengthens the (University of ) family and society. Our Vision

The Parent Centre strives to contribute to a society in which every parent/caregiver is able to raise We do this by working directly with resilient and well-balanced children parents, caregivers, professionals and in ways in which they can develop practitioners, and indirectly by their full potential, protected from collaborating with other people and victimisation and abuse in organisations which support and work communities free from violence. with parents.

01 Annual Report 2015 Director’s Report Chairperson’s Message Treasurer’s Message Venecia Barries Vanessa Debbie Pather Coombe

“My second trail of thought is to marvel at how, despite the circumstances, we have continued to move forward, doing what we do best i.e. loving, supporting, guiding and empowering parents- because good parenting continues to be the bedrock It is no exaggeration to say that the world and South Africa are Times are tough for NGOs' in today’s current conditions – of healthy child development; in crisis. There is a political, economic, social and moral crisis there is a fair amount of donor fatigue and the economic families, communities and ultimately both nationally and internationally. The non-profit sector is climate means companies and individuals alike do not have caught up in the cross current of this crisis and has to deal with excess funds to donate anymore. Having said that, The Parent society.” the conundrum of continuing to provide much needed and an Centre continues to enjoy support from many donors but it is ever growing demand for services while having to contend with getting harder and harder to sustain the level of donor income declining funding from donors. we have been benefitting from over the last few years. This means that we as an organisation need to put our heads As will be seen from the Director’s and Treasurer’s report, for together to come up with and implement a strategy that sees the year under review the Parent Centre has had to contend with us accessing new potential donors and trying to earn income diminishing funding. from our very worthwhile services.

My very first thought of 2014/15 is that it was a significantly During the year we conducted more than 6 107 sessions of Despite these challenges, as an organisation we have continued For the year ended 31 March 2015, donor and grant revenue challenging year for the non-profit sector in general, and for the counselling, home visits, support groups, training, workshops to provide our services in an outstanding manner. Every has increased by 3.7%, which as many will know, is below Parent Centre. A decrease in available funding was a major and talks with 10 211 parents and caregivers and have heard member of staff, management and the board through inflation. The very rewarding partnership we shared with the concern, as alluded to in the Treasurer’s Message. We also some inspiring success stories, two of which are shared in this commitment and hard work, have made a real and lasting World Childhood Foundation came to an end in 2013, and this experienced funders requiring more intricate reporting and report. Our Fatherhood Training Programme and Teen difference to the organisation and in turn to vulnerable children has significantly affected our income. Our expenses have monitoring and evaluation tools and systems. The Parent Centre Parenting Skills Training Programmes were both recognised as a and parents in the Western Cape. I salute you all and thank you increased by 11.9% and this has resulted in a loss for the year has always deemed it very important to evaluate services to Best Practice Model at the National Department of Social for this. of R 421 443 as opposed to a profit of R 47 434 in 2014. One of ensure that beneficiary needs are being met. Therefore internal Development’s National Conference in Pretoria in March 2015. the main reasons for the increase in expenses is the 14% To our donors who continue to fund us during tough economic and external monitoring and evaluation has been standard We also embarked on significant research, a randomised increase in our Employee Costs primarily due to vacancies conditions, thank you for your steadfast belief in the practice. However, the need for refinement has emerged, which controlled trial of our Positive Parenting Course. being filled. There have also been significant increases in the organisation and for supporting us in our vision and mission will require consultation with M & E specialists as well as other following categories of expenses: AGM costs, Lease rentals, dedicated to nurturing positive parenting and building healthy processes and resources. We continued to dream and strategise and developed our Motor Vehicle expenses, Photocopier costs, Protective families. strategic plan for the next five years. We could only achieve all of clothing, Refreshments, Repairs and maintenance, Many internal changes also created strain. By the end of March this through the wise and ethical leadership of our Board of “It is from our family that we learn Telecommunications, Training and Venue hiring. Due to 2014 we had a virtually new management team. Our long Management, so ably headed up by chairperson, Vanessa management being aware of the decrease in funding, all other serving Finance Manager and HR Managers, Zaitoon Abed and Pather; the continued support of our local and international unconditional love, we expenses have decreased compared to 2014 but these Barbara du Toit, both retired in the last quarter of 2013; Parent funders, donors and sponsors; collaborating with a long list of understand right from wrong and we reductions have been offset by the increases in the categories Infant Intervention Home Visiting Programme Manager, Erica excellent service providing partners and researchers; and the gain empathy respect and self-regulation.” mentioned. Management will continue to monitor all expenses Kleinhans, resigned in May 2014. We also face the looming diligence and sheer grit of our staff. I am particularly thankful to to achieve savings where possible. retirement of parenting stalwart, Fouzia Ryklief, who has Fouzia Ryklief, Julia Starck and Mireille Landman for their – Centre for Social Justice UK managed the PACES programme for more than eleven years and steadfastness. They are such models of the tenacity and Our budgeting process, which includes a zero based budget, has been involved with The Parent Centre for nearly twenty five resilience of the South African non-profit sector. I also thank our takes into account the fact that if insufficient funding is years. newer managers, Igsaan Najaar, Jolyn Crow and Blanche Rezant received during the forthcoming year, the programmes will be for blessing the organisation with additional insights, skills and reduced or possibly shelved until sufficient funding is energy. obtained.

The Board of Management continue to be committed and involved and are grateful to the staff and friends of the organisation who are so passionately helping children through parents in our communities.

02 03 Counselling Service Parent-Infant Intervention Home (Established In 1983) Visiting Programme (Established in 1994)

The demand for counselling service increased this year, Cases seen in Mitchell’s Plain and Hanover Park have been This programme provides : Significant challenges faced during particularly at the Wynberg head office, which is accessed by complex and particularly challenging, and in many instances the year: families across the Cape Metropole. 420 cases were seen this have involved parents and grandparents trying to cope with parenting support and training to the most at- risk pregnant year, a 50% increase from 282 in the previous year. More children who are aggressive and on drugs; absent fatherhood and new mothers living in ; ; Philippi; • Frequent flare ups in community violence presented a risk to parents and caregivers came to seek help in dealing with was common factor in many cases. Counselling in ; Nyanga; Mitchell’s Plain; ; programme delivery and staff safety. everyday common parenting concerns such as children not has not been well utilised by parents, which we are looking Hangberg and Retreat. Its unique focus is promoting secure listening. The number of parents referred by the courts and into and also had to be suspended for several months due to parent-infant attachment which is the foundation for good • Whilst implementing stronger monitoring systems we have other non-profit organisations also rose. A greater number of venue upgrade. Counselling in Gugulethu commenced in parent-child relationships and healthy child development and discovered that it is not always to find a balance between the African immigrant families accessed the service. These parents February 2015 and got off to a slow start but we have been also reduces the risk of child abuse, neglect and abandonment. relationship-building ethos of this programme, and monitoring often struggle without the support of extended family and very encouraged to see fathers accessing the service. One The pregnant and new mothers who voluntarily participate in and evaluation which focuses on numbers and policies and friends and their focus becomes one of earning an income in the father came because he was divorced, his ex-wife had taken this programme are typically women living with poverty; procedures. There is still much to learn in this regard. city, which is in stark contrast to their previous rural and the children to the Eastern Cape without consulting him and unplanned or unwanted pregnancy; a lack of support from their supported lifestyle. Their children are often caught in the he was concerned that he would not see his children again. He partner and/or their family members; depression or other • Programme manager, Erica Kleinhans resigned in May 2014 changes, which may be expressed through negative behaviour or has subsequently summoned the courage to visit his sons in mental illness; miscarriage or the death of a child; HIV/AIDS; and it took us several months and stringent selection processes difficulties in their parent-child relationship. the Eastern Cape and face possible hostility from his in-laws. substance abuse; domestic violence; rape and community to find a suitable successor. We appointed Blanche Rezant His sons were thrilled to see him. violence. November 2014 whose leadership has consolidated and We have also seen many single mothers of early adolescent boys re-energised the team. and girls and have been reminded that during divorce the one parent may become alienated from the children or families may I wish to especially thank the counsellors for their absolute Some of the achievements and • The resignation of Carol Cheesman, clinical psychologist and become polarised, which could be very traumatising for the professionalism and dedication; Perinatal Mental Health highlights during the year: Area Supervisor for Khayelitsha, Nyanga and Mitchell’s Plain in children, negatively impacting their behaviour at home, school Project, A.C.C.V and Sentinel Primary for providing December 2014 was a significant loss to the team. Her and in other arenas. Acknowledging and giving attention to counselling venues; and programme funders and donors - • In April 2014 parent-infant attachment counsellors Noludwe contribution to this work over several years is deeply valued. these difficulties and providing parents with guidance in Western Cape DSD; Trifid Trust; Glencore International; Tanale and Babalwa Tatsi-Ngala assisted in training several counselling has yielded positive outcomes for the children. Ackerman Family Foundation and Mike and Kathleen Robson. Tanzanian colleagues to conduct the Behavioural Assessment of the Infant, a core component of this home visiting We have expanded our work to include family counselling, Fouzia Ryklief programme. The training was an initiative of Peter Cooper Our sincere thanks go to: involving both parents (where possible), the children and other Manager (Reading University) for the purpose of replicating the significant adults such as grandparents, which has proven to be programme in Tanzania and then researching its impact. The programme social worker and very beneficial, as reported by parents as well as positive feedback children have given directly to counsellors. • 4711 at-risk pregnant women, caring for approximately 6945 parent-infant community attachment children were provided with this very unique and specialised counsellors for their dedication to at-risk Success Story parenting support, information and training mothers and their children, often in the • 4052 antenatal and postnatal home visits were conducted “When my marriage broke up my son midst of danger; the programme became involved with unsavoury • 125 Pregnancy and Early Parenting clinic talks were presented managers and supervisors who stoically at public maternity and obstetric units in Gugulethu; Mitchell’s led the team during a very stormy season; friends and started smoking dagga Plain; Imizamo Yethu; Hangberg and Khayelitsha and bunking school. I phoned the the administrative staff for their support; • Our first antenatal support group was launched in Hangberg Parent Centre for help and because of and programme funders and donors - the advice I received in my counseling • This programme continued to be the only parent-infant Western Cape DSD; Trifid Trust; Western attachment home visiting programme in South Africa which Cape Association for Infant Mental sessions, my son completed his has undergone a randomised controlled trial and was matric. He is now a university recommended for provincial scale up in several consultations Health; Vital Foundation; National student. If not for the Parent Centre, with various government departments. This consultation Lottery Distribution Trust Fund; Mutual process is ongoing. It could have gone so horribly wrong. and Federal Community Trust and Thank you to all of you for your • The programme was featured in 2014 edition of the South Rolfe-Nussbaum Foundation. African Child Gauge which this year specifically addressed the sterling work with parents – do not prevalence and prevention of violence against children. Venecia Barries ever stop doing this work. Director Thank you from a greatful Mom

04 05 Parent And Community Empowerment And Acknowledgements

Support (PACES) Programme We are particularly thankful to our (Established in 1997) PACES team who continued to impress with their professionalism, enthusiasm, A programme which creates a safety net for children through creativity and initiative; to Soraya Lester providing group support and training to parents and and Cathy Ward at UCT Psychology caregivers as well as professionals and other social service providers who engage with parents and children, and Success Story Department for providing the research through broad public dissemination of parenting opportunity and their commitment to the information. “I had given up trying to get my son process; to the many other stakeholders Some achievements during the year: away from the gang he’d joined. I who collaborated with us this year in tried to fetch him many times but he empowering parents and caregivers, and 313 parents and caregivers completed our Positive Parenting Training Course – a 7% increase on the previous year. just ran back to them. When I to Western Cape DSD; Trifid Trust; Participants were primarily from low socioeconomic attended The Parent Centre’s parent Glencore International and Community communities such as Bonteheuwel, Imizamo Yethu, support group I got the courage to try Khayelitsha, Mitchell’s Plain and Ruyterwacht; destitute Chest for their generous financial mothers living at St. Anne’s Home, refugee parents from the Our Fatherhood Training Programme was recognised as a Best again. This time he came home. I told support to this programme. Musati Project and clients from NICRO. 188 practitioners Practice Model at the National Department of Social him that I am fetching him because I working with more than 8000 children also completed our Development’s National Conference in Pretoria in March 2015. Fouzia Ryklief Parenting and Leadership (Train-the-Trainer) Training.This love him. I was so glad to have him Manager included social workers employed by Western Cape DSD; We continue to offer regular, weekly and fortnightly support back. I also learnt in the support Child Line Mpumalanga and Free State Child Welfare. and training to 622 parents and caregivers, caring for more than 1500 children, through 15 parent support groups in group that I must stop criticising him. We entered into a partnership with the Psychology communities across Cape Town. He has changed. He now helps me at Saying Goodbye to Department at to conduct a randomised controlled trial of our Positive Parenting Training We disseminated parenting information to nearly 3 million home, and even brings me a cup of Sharon Paulus, co-ordinator of the Hangberg Family Course. Over the years we have gathered reams of anecdotal people through a regular presence on Radio 786 and Voice of tea!” Resilience Project, in November 2014 due to relocation, was evidence of the positive impact of this training but decided the Cape and talks on other radio stations; appearances on the particularly hard. She is sorely missed as a colleague and that the time had come to conduct a rigorous external Expresso Show and Islamic TV; and participation in various friend. evaluation. The research commenced in August 2014 with indabas, seminars, festivals, campaigns and advocacy Mitchell’s Plain parents, and will be completed in early 2016. highlighting parenting issues.

Entering the unfamiliar territory of randomised controlled trials Presented a memorable challenge this year. Developing appropriate, standardised measurement tools was also not an easy task for the researchers; recruitment for the intervention and control groups took much longer than expected. A variety of strategies were employed, including special recruitment drive on Mandela Day on 18 July 2014, encouraging parents to participate in parenting training, in remembrance of our precious Madiba. The attendance rate in the first training for the intervention group was uncharacteristically, disappointingly low. The reasons for non-attendance will be explored in a separate research project in 2015.

06 07 Teen Parenting Skills Training Programme (Established In 2000)

Biological Parents & Biological Parents Males & Females Teen Parents and Caregivers Caregivers

Biological Parents Care-givers School-going Parents Total Total Total 1 2 1 2 1 2 Fathers Mothers Males Females Fathers Mothers Males Females Participants Groups Per Area

Gugulethu - 4 School Groups & 5 Community Groups 5 112 13 53 5 31 17 166 183

Nyanga - 1 School Group & 8 Community Groups 37 143 0 0 6 14 37 143 180 3 4 Khayelitsha - 6 School Groups & 3 Community Groups 15 74 7 95 3 37 22 169 191

1 Female Caregivers 27% 1 School Going 25% 1 Females 86% Grand Total 57 329 20 148 14 82 76 478 554 2 Biological Fathers 10% 2 Out of School 75% 2 Males 14% School-Going Total Males and Biological Parents Care-Givers Parents 3 Male Caregivers 4% Totals Females 386 168 96 554 554 4 Biological Mothers 59%

This programme has been part of our basket of services new groups that commenced the programme in February 2015 provided in Gugulethu, Nyanga/Philippi and Khayelitsha over are mid-way through the programme. the past 15 years. The unfortunate, even distressing, high rate of teenage pregnancy across our country, although stabilising over Feedback continues to reveal that positive, non-violent the past couple of years, places a high demand on this service to parenting is still a new, yet welcome, concept to most young teenage biological mothers and fathers. In addition, many participants whose personal experience has included corporal teenagers in these communities, challenged by the social ills of punishment. The sessions on loss and grief were deeply poverty, violence, crime and illness, carry the daily meaningful, although skilful facilitation was required to provide responsibility of caring for their younger siblings. support whilst containing emotions. Participants continued to enjoy the ‘Love relationships’ session and the control that the The programme seeks to provide support for these young assertiveness tools give them when faced with peer pressure. teenage parents and caregivers in their somewhat daunting dual They were eager to share and apply the practical skills learnt in task of coping with their parenting responsibilities and academic the sessions on problem-solving and managing money, at home. demands. Attainment of “a better life for all” compels us to The participants were sincerely appreciative of the parenting provide support and guidance to enable them to make skills learnt and the respectful support received from each other responsible choices which will result in attainment of personal and the facilitators. goals; as well as parenting- and life-skills which will enable these young parents to nurture and raise their children free from We wish to extend our sincere appreciation to our committed harmful parenting practices. Ultimately, our goal is to break the facilitators and generous funders, Western Cape DSD and Varda cycle of teen pregnancy in these families. Foundation, without whom we would be unable to sustain the service. We wish to thank to National Department of Social A total of 554 participants (27 groups) attended the programme Development for inviting us to present the programme as a Best between April 2014 and March 2015. Of these 554 participants, Practice Model at their National Conference in Pretoria in 70% were biological parents. 14% of the participants were male, March 2015. and 10% were biological fathers. Despite unabated gangsterism and violent crime, the community awareness of the facilitators Julia Starck ensured that the programme ran unhindered. As a result, all Manager 365 participants (18 groups) who completed the programme during 2014 did so with 100% attendance. 189 participants in 9

08 09 Statistics Our Impact (April 2014 - March 2015) (April 2014 - March 2015)

Activity Number of Number of Parents/ Professional/ Broader Children Counselling Sessions Caregivers Social service Publc Impacted Cases; Home providers (includes Visits; Talks; Parents Groups; /Caregivers) Workshops; trainings; Broad Public Dissemination

Counselling 420 586 420 798 Parent-Infant Intervention 78 home visiting programme Home Visits 4052 4052 532 790 Staff, Board & Pregnancy And Early Volunteers Parenting Clinic Talks 125 125 4170 6255

PACES Programme Parent Support Groups 17 602 622 1555 Positve Parenting Skills Course 26 123 333 884 Parenting & Leadership (Train-the-Trainer) Training 11 121 188 8235 Programme

Child Behaviour Management Training 1 8 11 273 Specialised Parenting Workshops 8 12 1448 52 4023 Mentoring & Support Programme (ongoing Support & Training for 4 4 157 3925 4 228 346 3 583 43 386 Parenting & Leadership Training Graduates) Children Impacted Professionals & Parents & Caregivers

Fatherhood Training 14 14 415 794 Community Workers Fatherhood Events 3 3 428 5 849 General Parenting Talks 47 47 1289 27 2978 Broad Public Dissemination of parenting information- open days, expo; promo days; campaigns; advocacy; 33 33 33 175 2 707 indabas; panel discussions; seminars; festivals. Broad Public Dissemination of parenting information- Radio and TV talks - Radio 786; Voice of the Cape; Radio 43 2 797 566 4196 349 Sonder Grense; Expresso show

Teen Parenting Skills Training Programme 27 406 554 638

PAN (Parenting in Africa) Dialogues/Seminars 4 4 436 1684 718 TOTAL 4835 6140 43386 3583 2 797 566 4 228 346 Facebook Likes Twitter Likes Excludes Islamic TV where the only stats given are for the African continent as a whole - 118 Million

10 11 Endorsement Letter: Endorsement Letter: Sentinel Primary Prof Peter J Cooper

12 13 Thank You To Our Board; Staff; Volunteers; Funders; Donors And Sponsors

Staff For giving of your Board Of Management: Vanessa Director: Funders, Pather talents, time, or Venecia Barries Counselling Service: Donors Chairperson Fouzia Ryklief (Manager); Anita Grant; Sue Mitrani; Shenaaz treasures towards a Moos; Julia Noble; Carmen De Vos, Gcobisa Ngalo; Shahana Mia & Sponsors Shona Parent-Infant Intervention Home Sturgeon common purpose of Ackerman Family Foundation Visiting Programme: Community Chest of the Western Cape Vice-Chairperson Blanche Rezant (Manager); Erica Kleinhans (ex Manager); Datatex empowering parents Mireille Landman; Judy Brice; Stine Lundgren; Carol Cheesman; Amanda Adams; Noludwe Tanale; Nosiphiwo Din Din Trust Nomaqiza; Deborah Meyer; Babalwa Tatsi-Ngala; Nompumelelo Glencore International Cetywayo; Sheilla Tomsana; Vivienne Williams; Audry Debbie and caregivers, in Johnson; Phumla Memani; Christine Nichols; Mariam Malan MediClinic and Lucy Yozi Coombe MediClinic Cape Town PACES Programme: Metropolitan Health Group Treasurer the process helping Mike and Kathleen Robson Fouzia Ryklief (Manager); Jann Watlington; Sharon Paulus; Nasiera Ebrahim; Berenice Scott; Carmen De Vos; Shuaib Salie; Mutual and Federal Community Trust Helen Gosnell; Pat Coombe; Ruth Bruintjies; Shenaaz Moos; My School Card Nosipho to improve Sandi Trout; Margaret Flack-Davison; Linda Waner; Jenny Wright; Nawhaal Jacobs; Kaashifa King; Edith Delcarme; National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund Fatsha Shirley Madlingozi; Ellen Daries; Julia Noble; Soraya De Goede; Nivea Gadija Van Eden; Vanessa Jooste; Amanda Lindsay; Helen Member outcomes for Barnard; Elize Hendricks; Lephina Mojakgolo, Marjorie Feni; Peninsula Beverages Bulelwa Kuse; Charles George; Bekiwe Sopangisa; Noxolo Madlakane; Elizabeth Giba; Gcobisa Ngalo Rolfe-Nussbaum Foundation parents, caregivers Rotaract Teen Parenting Skills Training Trifid Trust Mohamed Programme: Vanessa Pather Mukadam themselves; their Varda Foundation Julia Starck (Manager); Lephina Mojakgolo, Marjorie Feni; Member Bulelwa Kuse; Charles George; Bekiwe Sopangisa; Noxolo Venecia Barries Madlakane; Elizabeth Giba children, families, Vital Foundation Administrative Support Staff: Western Cape Association for Infant Mental Vanessa Health Igsaan Najaar (Finance & HR Manager); Jolyn Crow (Office & Minnaar communities and Admin Manager); Safura Solomon; Zaiboenisa Parsley; Letitia Western Cape Department of Social Tomlinson; Zeenat Hendricks (Marketing); Lhalha Feni; Bronwyn Thompson; Zaida Jansen Development Member ultimately society. Volunteers: Zaitoon Abed; Judith Davies; Ghairusnisa Lashmar

14 15 Booklet Layout & Design By Chocolate Sauce www.chocolatesauce.co

16 15 Wynberg Head Office

Upper Level Wynberg Centre 123 Main Road Wynberg Cape Town 7800

Tel: + 27 21 762 0116 Fax: +27 21 762 5160

Email: [email protected] Website: www.theparentcentre.org.za NPO No: 005-605 PBO No: 18/11/13/448 - Section 18A Fund