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Kids Haven and their advice on drug use

Kids Haven can deploy community workers who reach out to children on the streets, to build trust and form a relationship with them.

Byline: Jemma Pringle

Kids Haven is a child and youth care centre which was established on October 27, 1992, to care for and protect street children, those with street connection behaviour and children in crisis in Ekurhuleni and beyond.

The main centre is located in Cranbourne Avenue, Benoni CBD.

“Every child has the right to basic nutrition, shelter, healthcare and support, but they also have the right to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse and harm,” said Don Mofokeng, programme manager for pre-and aftercare community services of Kids Haven.

“At Kids Haven, we take the protection of children seriously. We see it as the fundamental starting point for a child’s development. If a child is afraid, vulnerable and insecure, that child is not easily able to grow, play, learn and thrive. Moreover, we assist in children with challenging behaviour,” said Sam Mokgopha, Kids Haven CEO.

Kids Haven has community workers who reach out to children on the streets to build trust and form a relationship with them.

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“We then support them and help them to attend our ‘drop-in programme’ where we do assessments, refer them to statutory services for admission to care or reintegrate them with their families,” said Mofokeng.

“Those with serious drug problems are referred to Sanca for specialised services. Once they have been assisted with drug rehabilitation Kids Haven then intervenes with other counselling, life skills, education and other recreational programmes.

“When they have fully recovered and have bounced back in life, we then reunite them with their families or we prepare them for the independent living programme.”
With many children struggling with the pull-back to the drug life, Kids Haven also deals with runaways.

“We reach out to them and encourage them to come back. We have therapeutic programmes, recreational programmes and life skills. We refer them back to a rehabilitation centre if the problem persists,” said Mokgopha.

According to the centre, on average 11 children abscond s year.

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“This is inclusive of all children with challenging behaviours and not necessarily children with drug use only. We are, however, not experiencing the problem of absconding that much. Others disappear such that we cannot even trace their whereabouts anymore because they do not return to their families or to the places they were removed from after absconding,” said Mofokeng.

Kids Haven does much to assist the children that either come to them or are found by them.

“We enrol them in our different programmes, be it the life skills programme, gender-based violence, men and boys, therapy and sports. We also promote exposure to other ways of life for them so they can see other alternatives in life,” said Mokgopha.

The centre has had many different drug addictions they have had to deal with, such as children who smoked nyaope, benzene, dagga and cocaine, with dagga being the most popular due to it being easily accessible by children on the streets, followed by nyaope.

“Some children were even starting with alcoholic sanitisers,” said Mofokeng.

“Children with drug habits have serious behavioural challenges, like not following Kids Haven rules, stealing items inside to sell outside, violence, disrespectful to staff. Some even start gangs inside to either steal or bully other children.”

They have even had situations of children trying to sneak drugs into the centre.

“We have incidences of drug smuggling, mostly dagga, but we do have isolated incidences where they bring in hard drugs like cocaine. We search their bags and clothes when they come back from school or activities outside the centre,” said Mokgopha.

“In one incident we found there was a ring leader bringing in and sending others to bring drugs inside whenever they are outside Kids Haven.

“We focused on giving more specific therapy and other life skill programmes. We also monitor them 24/7 to ensure they do not have access to drugs again. For those who do bring drugs into the centre, all privileges are taken away from them.”

Drug additions are a big problem all over the world right now, and Kids Haven is just one centre trying its best to save the youth.

“If you feel your child may have a problem, monitor, and observe your children’s behaviour, their eating habits and if things get stolen or disappear in the house,” said Mofokeng.

“They become withdrawn, depressed, less motivated, quiet, hostile, angry, uncooperative, deceitful, secretive and unable to focus or spend much time sleeping and, moreover, signs of a sudden loss of inhibitions, hyperactive and/or unusually elated, you will pick it up quite easily.

“If you’ve just discovered or have reason to believe your child is using drugs, the first thing to do is sit down and prepare for the important conversation ahead. The most important thing you can do first is simply listening to your child.

“Your child may not be ready to talk, and if you find that this may be the case, prepare a list of specific questions regarding his/her recent behaviours. Ask him/her why he/she has been out late, who he/she has been hanging out with, and where he/she has been when he/she comes home smelling like smoke.

“Ask him/her when the substance use began, and how exactly is he/she is getting the drugs or the alcohol. Is he/she being pressured by anyone?”

Mokgopha added: “Consider professional help quicker. We know drugs and alcohol affect the teen differently than they would at any other age. We also know, however, that drug addiction in adolescents and young adults can be successfully treated.

“If you believe your teen is addicted to drugs, consult a social services organisation or Sanca may be the next step. Early intervention is critical to maintaining health and well-being and helping him/her achieve a sober, drug-free lifestyle in the future.

“One of the most important things to remember is that you should not wait for your child to become addicted before you seek help. Discovering the first signs of drug or alcohol abuse in your teen will be the best time to act.

“It is never too early to talk to your teen about his/her drug-using habits, and never too early to bring in the help of addiction professionals.”

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