MANILA – A senior official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday reiterated that availing of services from the agency’s centers and residential care facilities (CRCFs) should always be the last resort by concerned parties.
“First of all, the DSWD values family ties so all necessary measures and interventions must be exhausted before being admitted to a DSWD-managed center or facility,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in a news release.
The DSWD spokesperson said an individual may be admitted to a DSWD-managed residential facility through a court order in cases such as children in conflict with the law (CICLs), physically and sexually abused children, abandoned and neglected children, older persons, or women in especially difficult circumstances.
Dumlao said local government units (LGUs) can also refer cases or individuals to the department especially if they need technical assistance from the agency, or if the agency facility has a service that suits the needs of the client.
“We would like to stress that our social workers carefully check if the referred individuals have relatives that can be trusted to take care of the client before being admitted to any CRCF. Again, we value family ties and we don’t want the clients to be away from their families. There will be a client assessment and case conference to determine what interventions are needed before they are admitted to a residential care facility,” she said.
The DSWD operates 67 residential care facilities in 16 regions and seven non-residential care facilities.
The agency’s CRCFs cater to vulnerable and disadvantaged children, youth, women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and other individuals and families in crisis.
The residential care facilities provide interventions such as social services; homelife services; health and nutrition services; educational services; productivity/livelihood services; cultural and recreational activities; and spiritual enrichment activities, among others.
Meanwhile, non-residential care facilities provide interventions rendered daily or during part of the day, addressing crisis or developmental concerns of an individual, a group of individuals, or a family.
The DSWD operates a total of seven non-residential care facilities in the National Capital Region (NCR), Regions 1 (Ilocos Region), 7 (Central Visayas), 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), and 12 (Soccsksargen). (PNA)