An Overview Of Our Story

Child Welfare SA - Edenvale is affiliated to Child Welfare South Africa, and is an important and integral part of the Edenvale community.

The Organisation has a statutory mandate over the Edenvale and Bedfordview area. It does its work quietly and efficiently behind the scenes.

The organisation, originally called the Edenvale Child and Family Welfare Society, was established in the mid-1950s in order to supplement and support the work of the then National and Provincial Departments of Child Welfare. For many years its focus was simply to help those families that needed support due to loss of jobs, loss of one or more parents, or alcoholism. The organisation provided food, clothing, legal advice and even temporary accommodation if required.

However, over the years, as the face of Edenvale has changed, so has the organisation. With the new 1994 dispensation, it was tasked as the official NPO to handle social welfare matters in Edenvale and surrounding areas by the new South African Government.

More Of Our Story

The community outreach programme (a social worker is available to attend to counselling at five primary schools in Edenvale, as and when requested to do so. This has proved beneficial at identifying problems whilst they are still manageable, and in providing counselling on issues including child neglect, abandonment, drug or alcohol abuse and child abuse.

Social workers work closely with the Department of Social Development and the SAPS in resolving family crises as well as intervening when required. Child Welfare SA – Edenvale also works closely with the Edenvale hospital when doing removals and placements for abandoned babies. Our social workers are called upon to place children in foster care or to arrange safe care placements. These placements require regular monitoring and evaluation reports.

In 1988, recognizing the need for low cost day care for children of low income families, the organisation opened the Pinocchio Crèche, now Pinocchio Educare Centre, which is permitted to accommodate 50 children between 3 and 6 years of age.

In return for services rendered, and upon submission of the relevant documentation and reports, the Society receives a subsidy from the Department of Social Development. This covers a portion of the expenses for the Educare and Society. Thus we must also depend on contributions from the public, school fees, and the local schools and churches.