WHITE PAPER ON FAMILIES 2013

PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

17 SEPTEMBER 2014

• Purpose• Structure of the White Paper on Families• Background • Situation Analysis• Vision and Mission• Objectives • Definition and types of Families• Response Strategies• Coordination and Implementation• Recommendations

Outline of the Presentation

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To brief the portfolio committee on the White Paper on Families as well as the proposed strategies and programmes that strengthen families and promote family life.

Purpose of the Presentation

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Structure of the White Paper on Families

• GLOSSARY• FOREWORD

Section 1: Introduction

Section 2: Setting the context

Section 3: Current legislation and policy framework

Section 4: Response strategy for families

Section 5 : Coordination, Implementation & monitoring structures

References 4

BACKGROUND

• The development of a family policy in South Africa was initiated in 2004 after the research that was commissioned by the Department of Social Development on the structure and needs of families.

• The research resulted in the development of draft national family policy which was later presented to cabinet .

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BACKGROUND (cont’d)

• Cabinet recommended that a White paper on families be developed to address the plight of families.

• The process was initiated by developing the green paper and consulted nationally.

• Public hearings were conducted in rural and urban areas

• Experts were consulted and the following government clusters: Governance and administration, JCPS, and Social protection and Community development.

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BACKGROUND (cont’d)

• White Paper on families was presented to cabinet and approval was granted on the 26th of June 2013.

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Situational Analysis

• The family is under threat and unable to play its critical roles of socialisation, nurturing, care and protection of family members effectively, due to various factors.

• Social ills that families have to content with includes amongst others: poverty , high rate of unemployment , domestic violence , crime, high level of unwanted pregnancies, absent fathers, general decay in moral values

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Situational analysis (cont’d)

• These challenges contributed to family disintegration and vulnerability , hence the development of the White Paper on Families

• It is envisaged that the implementation of the White Paper will result in well functioning and resilient families that are able to nurture and promote care to their family members.

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Vision and MissionVision: Well-functioning families which are loving, peaceful, safe, stable, and economically self-sustaining, that also provides care and physical, emotional, psychological, financial, spiritual, and intellectual support for their members. 

Mission: To undertake activities, programmes, projects and plans to promote, support and nourish well-functioning families that are loving, peaceful, safe, stable, and economically self-sustaining that also provide care and physical, emotional, psychological, financial, spiritual, and intellectual support for their members. 10

Objectives • Enhance the socializing, caring, nurturing and

supporting capabilities of families so that their members are able to contribute effectively to the overall development of the country;

• Empower families and their members by enabling them to identify, negotiate around, and maximize economic, labour market, and other opportunities available in the country; and

• Improve the capacities of families and their members to establish social interactions which make a meaningful contribution towards a sense of community, social cohesion and national solidarity.

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Types of Families in South Africa

Taking into consideration the legislative framework presented in Section 3, as well as the consensus reached during the consultative process the family will, for the purposes of this White Paper, be defined as:”A societal group that is related by blood (kinship), adoption, foster care or the ties of marriage (civil, customary or religious), civil union or cohabitation with connections that extend beyond a particular physical residence.”

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Types of Families in South Africa cont..

Types of families: Amongst othersCohabitation; Single parent Families, Female Headed Household, skip-generation h/holds; Child/youth Headed house hold, Same-sex relationships and marriages , Polygamous marriages; Migrants families, etc.

Theoretical Approaches proposed

Social development approach, Systems approach, Lifecycle approach, Strengths perspective, Rights-based approach

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Strategic priority 1: Promotion of healthy family life- Affirm importance of family - Respect diverse family types & values- Foster stable marital unions- Promote intergenerational solidarity- Promote positive values & moral regeneration- Promote gender equality- Encourage father’s involvement in children’s upbringing- Encourage responsible parenting

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

Strategic priority 2: Family strengthening- Commission & fund studies- Establish family focused approach in - - development & poverty reduction policies & programmes- Enhance family resilience by improving - economic capacities of families- Ensure income & social security- Support family in its care giving functions- Promote family solidarity- Provide adequate health care- Develop more family focused HIV & Aids - interventions- Strengthen community support- Develop regional & international - collaborations & partnerships

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES (Cont.)

Strategic priority 3: Family preservation

- Prevention

- Early intervention

- Statutory intervention

- Reunification & aftercare

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES (Cont.)

Section 5:Coordination,implementation and monitoring structure

4.1 Coordination– The successful implementation of the

White paper on families will dependent on a sound intersectoral and interdepartmental system.

– The intersectoral coordination mechanism consist of Govts, civil society , private sector , traditional leaders , religious organizations and institution of higher learning.

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Section 5:Coordination,implementation and monitoring structure conti..

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The White paper on families will be implemented at different levels of government National , Provincial and Municipality level.•National level The structure for services to families will be established under the lead of the Department of Social Development.

Section 5:Coordination,implementation and monitoring structure conti..

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Its responsibility is to facilitate coordination , collaboration and synergy in the implementation of the White paper.Guide and direct the process of ensuring that services get to the designated groups , their families and communities.

Section 5:Coordination,implementation and monitoring structure conti..

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• Provincial levelThe core functions of the provincial structure will

be:Develop a provincial integrated operational plan for

the implementation of the White paper in the province.

Section 5:Coordination,implementation and monitoring structure conti..

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• Municipality The core functions will be : Develop an integrated local plan of action for the

implementation of the White paper on services to families.

Dedicate resources to the implementation activities of the White paper

Section 5: Coordination, implementation and monitoring structure (cont’d)

4.3 Monitoring and Evaluation

The monitoring system will be based on the indicators developed specifically for the white paper, data capturing tools

The DPME and the department will develop a monitoring mechanism for both the national and provincial departments to assess progress.

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Section 5: Coordination, implementation and monitoring structure (cont’d)

4.3 Monitoring and Evaluation •FrequencyDepartments and civil society organizations will be expected to submit quarterly reports on the White paper to DSD for consolidation.A national report will be compiled and be tabled in parliament on an annual basis when the policy is fully implemented

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1. DSD developed program such as mediation, family reunification services, integrated parenting framework, fatherhood strategy, active parenting of teenagers. 2. Marriage enrichment & preparation, and family preservation3. Integrated plan developed to implement the policy4. Integrated national Forum in place, including provincial for a’s to facilitate implementation

CURRENT STATUS

Challenges

•Limited funding for services to families in provinces•Use of family as a focal point for service delivery is still a challenge•Commitment by Departments on board

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CONCLUSION

1. The department is looking forward to full implementation of the White Paper in all 9 Provinces. 2. White Paper will give us an opportunity to strengthen the programme. 3. The White Paper will position the Department to advocate for more resources to meet the demand of the service.

Thank You!