General and Specific Objectives
- General objective: Facilitate treatment and rehabilitation of youth offenders to foster self-reliance and community contribution.
- Specific objectives include:
- Developing a pool of community volunteers.
- Providing direct community services such as livelihood and education assistance.
- Strengthening networking among juvenile justice system stakeholders.
- Documenting cases and conducting research to guide policy and program development.
Project Description
- Utilizes community volunteers including retired judges, teachers, youth leaders, women's groups.
- Addresses economic, educational, medical, and psychosocial needs of youth offenders and their families.
- Serves as a pilot within a comprehensive community-based rehabilitation framework.
Project Components
- Volunteer Intervention Program:
- Identification, screening, and training of volunteers known as Volunteers for Youth (VIPY).
- Direct Social Services:
- Casework and counseling from referral through rehabilitation.
- Self-employment assistance for youth aged 15 and above.
- Skills and vocational training.
- Educational assistance including scholarships and allowances.
- Legal assistance through referrals to Public Attorney's Office.
- Medical and other support services via collaboration with government and NGOs.
- Research and Documentation:
- Maintaining a data bank and conducting follow-up studies.
- Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Periodic technical assistance and evaluations to refine policies and procedures.
Policies and Procedures
- Target Areas: Urban communities with high incidence of juvenile delinquency.
- Clientele: Youth offenders under custody supervision, released youth offenders, and those with dismissed or terminated cases.
- Volunteer Recruitment: From elderly associations, parent volunteers, youth groups, women’s groups, and civic/religious organizations.
Volunteer Intervention Program Implementation
- Identification and screening:
- Responsibility of Senior Social Worker and City/Municipal Social Welfare Officers.
- Screening criteria include moral character, community recognition, health, communication skills, and willingness to train.
- Volunteers receive identification cards and annual renewal of memorandum of understanding.
- Training:
- Three-day comprehensive training on youth offender issues, relevant laws, DSWD programs, counseling, and volunteer roles.
- Followed by a three-month on-the-job training under supervision.
- Roles and Responsibilities:
- Monitor assigned youth cases.
- Review and supervise rehabilitation plans.
- Submit monthly reports and coordinate with social workers.
- Conduct group/community activities.
- Attend quarterly meetings with social workers and volunteers.
- Caseload: Each volunteer manages 3-5 cases for intensive follow-up.
- Allowances: Monthly transportation and food allowances provided.
Direct Social Services Details
- Casework and Counseling:
- Intake, case study, problem-solving, rehabilitation planning, supervision, and monitoring.
- Counseling focuses on delinquency causes and coping strategies.
- Self-Employment Assistance:
- Capital aid following existing SEA Kaunlaran procedures with roll back scheme to maximize outreach.
- Skills Training:
- Funded with project proposals, limited material and transportation allowances.
- Educational Assistance:
- Support for school supplies, uniforms, transport, and food.
- Attendance monitoring required.
- Legal Services:
- Honorarium for legal counsel after case resolution.
- Justification and certification required for disbursement.
Research, Documentation, and Data Management
- Document successful rehabilitation case studies.
- Maintain comprehensive data bank with individual and statistical profiles.
- Conduct follow-up studies in coordination with field offices.
Monitoring and Evaluation
- Quarterly monitoring by program staff and social welfare specialists.
- Mid-year and year-end evaluations to assess implementation and identify improvements.
Subsidy and Assistance Rates
- Volunteer Training: Up to PHP 1,050 per volunteer for three-day training.
- Food and Transportation Allowances: PHP 300 to 500 monthly.
- Self-Employment: Rates follow SEA Kaunlaran guidelines.
- Skills Training: Up to PHP 500 for materials, PHP 50 monthly transport for up to 4 months.
- Educational Assistance: Up to PHP 500 for supplies; PHP 100 monthly transportation and food for up to 10 months; PHP 500 for clothing and footwear once per school year.
- Legal Assistance: Up to PHP 1,000 honorarium post-judgment.
Roles and Responsibilities
- DSWD - Bureau of Child and Youth Welfare:
- Formulates guidelines and proposals.
- Provides technical and financial support.
- Conducts volunteer training and issues IDs.
- Conducts audits and evaluations.
- Maintains data bank and coordinates implementation.
- DSWD - Field Offices:
- Volunteer screening and selection.
- Training logistics and supervision of fund use.
- Networking and program facilitation.
- Reporting to the Bureau.
- Social Welfare Officer II:
- Maintains case records.
- Collaborates with the community and juvenile justice stakeholders.
- Supervises volunteers and ensures adherence to their roles.
- Prepares project proposals and assists with volunteer reimbursements.
- Submits reports to Field Office for compliance.
These guidelines establish a structured community-based rehabilitation system emphasizing volunteer intervention, direct social services, comprehensive monitoring, and collaborative responsibility among welfare agencies and community sectors to effectively address the rehabilitation of children in conflict with the law.