CHILDLINE 24-HOUR TOLL-FREE HELPLINE

The crisis line is our core business and our counsellors render services to more children and their families every year. We are delighted that we have grown to the point where we were able to answer a total 164 814 calls in our new sophisticated call centre. However, our telephone system does indicate that a total of 248 742 calls were dialed to us, indicating that we need to continue to grow in order to respond to each caller.

This key service, often the only available service for children, provides early intervention, counselling and child protection services for young people in distress and their families.  Trained counsellors offer short term telephonic counselling / intervention to the callers.  

Issues which our counsellors are trained on to offer in depth information include: sexual, physical and emotional abuse; poverty related issues; health and HIV / AIDS; legal matters; teenage pregnancy; discrimination, bullying and school related problems; relationship and family problems; depression; suicide; and behavioural problems

Childline Gauteng 24 hour toll free help line offers the following services:

• 24-hour Toll-free Crisis Helpline for physically, sexually and emotionally abused children and their families, adult survivors of early sexual abuse and any other child related problems. This service is responsible for service provision in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West and Limpopo Province.

• 60 521 calls were made to our Helpline by children testing the Childline Gauteng response. Research has indicated that a child will phone 9 times before talking to the counsellors. It takes immense courage for children to speak out.

ACTIVITIES AT THE CRISISLINE

Partnerships

• Volunteer Child Network

• Department of Justice - Child Support Week

• Child Protection Unit

• Child and Family Welfare Societies

• Department of Social Development

Highlights during the past year

• Installation of telephone technology

• Installation of data capturing programme

• Training of 10 staff members as Social Auxiliary Workers

• Selection, screening and training of 20 new volunteers

• External training included: play therapy, advanced play therapy, substance abuse, soul work, courageous work with adult survivors,

• Participation in the Department of Justice's Child Support Week. This focus group disseminated information regarding the Child Support Grant and maintenance issues. Our counsellors are able to provide practical information regarding these issues as a poverty relief mechanism to families

• TB Tests for all Staff

• Court Preparation workshop

• Participation in the Gauteng Prevention of Commercial Sexual Exploitation Forum

• Attendance of the Gauteng Department of Heath's Aids Summit

• Idasa Children's Budget