Residential care – Shelter

The Shelter provides separate dormitory accommodation for boys and girls.  

There are bathrooms, classrooms, a recreation hall and Dining room for use by the children.

The process of stabilising the children can take anything from 6 months or longer, after which decisions regarding future plans are made, and statutory procedures are followed where necessary. If a child is stable but no alternative placement is found, or the child is stable but not yet ready to be returned to the community, the child may be moved to the Kids Haven Village. In some cases 6 months of intervention is not sufficient, such as when there the child suffers from a severe conduct disorder or if no alternative home can be found, and then he/she will remain at the shelter for as long as is necessary.

Residential care - Village

The Village provides long-term care for children who have successfully participated in the initial rehabilitation programme (the shelter programme).  Anywhere from 25 – 30% of the children remain at Kids Haven until adulthood, as there is no possibility of alternative placement.  The remainder of the children will have contact with family members and will be encouraged to make home visits.  In certain circumstances, the children can return home once the child is considered stable and the home circumstances are acceptable.  

Alternatively, foster placements are found.  It is always easier to place younger children and children without siblings.  Kids Haven prefers not to break up sibling units, but if one child is fostered, then regular visits are made to keep that child in contact with his/her siblings.

The success of the Village hinges on the rapport that the children build with the Staff.  It is necessary, therefore, to ensure that the standard of care at the Village is maintained and that the Staff continues to provide love and security for the children.  This is the first real place that the children are able to function ‘normally’ as children – in a positive environment amidst other similar children who are all attending school, making friends and participating in appropriate after-school activities.  Life at the Village is all about norms and the fulfilment of basic children’s rights.