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I
Rationale

Children in the streets are continually growing in number. Studies show that they comprise about three percent of the child and youth population of a city.  Accordingly, more than 50% are in Metro Manila.  A majority (75%) go home to their families, others (20%) have minimal contacts with their families and only 5% are abandoned and with no families at all.  In a recent study conducted in 1999 by De La Salle University, a total of 22,556 street children in 22 selected cities nationwide were identified.

The street children phenomenon started to be felt in the ‘70s.  Thousands of families troop to the cities for economic survival due to result of widespread poverty and the presence of insurgents in rural areas.  In the cities, these families live with relatives and friends in slum and squatter areas.  With inadequate skills or often no skills at all, they land the lowest paying jobs.  Forced by necessity, these migrants send their children to the streets to help the family eke out a living.

Responding to the plight of street children, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the National Council on Social Development Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. ( NCSD), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched in 1986 the National Project on Street Children.  The project covers 27 cities and five urban municipalities with an interagency body made up of government agencies and non-government organizations.  By the end of December 1997, approximately 70,000 street children and youth had been reached over a 10-year period.

In October 1998, Ahon Bata sa Lansangan project was launched prioritizing the 17 cities and municipalities of the National Capital Region by strengthening the capabilities of LGUs to address the problem.  It is component of the Estrada Administration’s pro-poor agenda which seeks to intensify and accelerate past and present attempts to address the plight of street children by mobilizing various sectors as a whole and not be left to the government alone.  The front liners of this undertaking are the local government units who have taken the lead in coordinating the efforts of other government agencies and non-government organizations and other stakeholders with an end goal of getting children off the streets.

In recognition of the growing demand to expand the services with high-density sites of street children, these guidelines on street children program are hereby formulated.  The guidelines also serve as the guiding principles for policies and program interventions that promote and safeguard the rights of Filipino street children using the framework on the Philippine National Developmental Plan for Children or better known as Child 21.  The government adopted the implementation of the Child 21 goals where street children is considered as one of the main priorities of its commitment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

LEGAL BASES:

The formulation of these guidelines is anchored on the following laws:

1.         1987 Constitution "Article XV, Section III. The State shall defend "the right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition and special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty , exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their environment."

2.         1991 Local Government Code. Chapter 2. Under the Decentralization Process.  The Code in cognizance of the primary role of Local Government Units (LGUs) in the development and growth of communities, vested in the latter the exercise of service delivery functions, among them the delivery of health and welfare services and the implementation of programs and projects for street children, primary healthcare, maternal and child care, etc.

3.         Republic Act 7610, also known as the "Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discriminatory Act" Article 1, Section 2 — It states that a comprehensive program shall be formulated to protect children against any form of abuse which endanger child survival and normal development.

4.         PD 603 or the Child and Youth Welfare Code.  Under its general principles, it stipulates that the Child is one of the most important asset of the nation.  Every effort should be exerted to promote his welfare and enhance his opportunities for a useful and happy life.

III
Project Description

The project on street children is a comprehensive and integrated program addressing the plight of street children by taking them away from the streets to prevent further exposure to harm, exploitation, abuse and other hazards.  It is a multi-sectoral initiative to enable government both in the national and local levels, non-government agencies, business sectors, socio-civic-religious group and communities to assume collective responsibility in protecting children.

IV
Objectives

The program seeks to take away children from the streets, provide the children and their families with adequate social services and to protect their rights towards their physical, social, spiritual and emotional development as persons, thus preparing them to become productive members of the community where they belong.

Specific Objectives:

a.      To rescue street children from the streets to protect them from further exposure to hazards, risks, abuse and exploitation.

b.      To access and provide children basic social services thru the following:

b.1     education — provision of scholarship or educational assistance for children who will attend formal schooling and vocational/technological skills training for older children and those who would not want to go back to school;

b.2     life skills activities for them to adopt a more healthy and appropriate behavior and values to live decently, responsively and productively;

b.3     an alternative home and family for emotional and physical security and safety;

c.       To effect changes among families of street children in terms of family values and prevent family disintegration through conduct of parenting enrichment sessions and increasing family income through livelihood assistance program and;

d.      To mobilize and strengthen partnership among community, national government agencies, non-government organizations, church groups, business sectors and other people’s/community -based organizations in assuming collective responsibility in protecting children.

V
Target Clientele and Areas

Street children are persons below eighteen years of age who spend a significant amount of time on the streets, markets, parks, premises of malls, ports and airports and other similar areas.  They can be seen pushing garbage carts, shining shoes, scavenging for scrap, watching parked cars and peddling cigarettes, plastic bags, newspapers, sampaguita garlands for a living and others.  They also roam in the streets and knock at cars in order to beg.  They adopt the streets as their homes, as a source of livelihood, or both. Whether they maintain ties with their families or not, they are inadequately protected, supervised, or directed by responsible adults.  Generally left on their own, they fall prey to the vices of the streets as they work to keep themselves alive to help their families to survive.

The program will be implemented in key cities and urban areas nationwide with high incidence of street children.

VI
Components

A. Rescue Operation

Rescue operation is an activity where street children are taken away from the streets.  The LGU social workers, street educators, barangay officials, law enforcement authorities, among others shall be needed as part of the rescue team whenever this activity is implemented.  At an appropriate time, the team shall rescue street children specifically to protect them from exploitation, syndicates and other forms of abuse.  The operation is also a reaching out process where the children know that there is an assistance available to them.  Its ultimate purpose is to enable these children to come to a decision toward a better option and a clear direction in life.

B. Social Mobilization and Networking

This involves formation of core groups and/or strengthening of Task Forces or Clusters in the City level composed of local government units, national government agencies, non-government organizations, other stakeholders, community leaders and volunteers including the committees under the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children as well as the street children and their families.

C.        Basic Services Delivery

Community-based, center-based and street-based are the three modes/approaches of delivery of basic services for street children in order to reach them in the places where they are.  Said mode of service delivery is based on needs and readiness of the street children.

» Street-based

The street-based approach reaches out to children on the streets or in places where they are outside of their homes.  Street educators serves as the street children’s link to resources within the community through counseling and dialogues to build trust and establish a friendly relationship.

The goal is to enable these children make a decision whether to return to their families or be referred to centers for residential care services.

» Center-based

Center-based approach or residential care is the provision of physical and emotional environment as well as structured experiences.  This is a temporary placement that enables children to prepare themselves for their reintegration to their families and into the mainstream of society.  Center-based services can be provided thru the following:

»  Community-Based

The community-based approach is preventive in nature which addresses the problem at its point of origin-- the family and community of the street child.  It aims to enhance the capacities of families and communities in taking care of their children.  It also mobilizes the support system for the families.  The community-based services include the following:

Services Directed to:

1.  Street Children
   
   
   •  Educational Assistance Program (EAP)
     
     
   It aims to assist children to go back to school either in primary or secondary level including vocational training.  The objective of this program is to enable children to remain in school and reduce their working time on streets.  The educational assistance include regular meetings of parents to sustain the child and family’s motivation to remain in school.
   
   
   •   Skills Training
     
     
   It aims to provide and or enhance the skills of older street children for gainful employment.  This can be conducted by appropriate agency in the community or by referral to skills training centers.  Available marketable skills should be planned and identified according to the needs and skills of the child.
   
   
   •   Life Skills Development
     
     
   To lead a successful and productive life, child also needs the ability to relate to and respect others and oneself, the ability to know and carry out their responsibility and the ability to be more aware and perceptive about their environment.  This can be done through the conduct or value formation, playing games, workshops and other activities that give them an opportunity to experience teamwork and cooperation, planning and decision-making, testing out their ideas as well as discovering their weaknesses and strengths.  These are necessary in helping them to develop into emotionally, physically and socially healthy children.
   
   
   •   Peer Support Group
   
   It aims to build the capability of the children to become partners in the delivery of services related to their development.  Selected street children who have the interest, willingness and capability to serve as peer counselors, educators and advocates for positive lifestyles, children’s right etc. shall be trained to assist other children in times of need.  The peer support group seeks to guide other children towards achieving self-reliance and participation in society’s development.
   
   
   •  Alternative Family Care
     
     
   For children whose parents are unable to provide for their basic needs due to problems in family relationships, extreme poverty and lack of parenting preparation, the alternative family care arrangements may be provided through adoption, foster family care, legal guardianship and kinship care.  Placement of children in a substitute parental arrangement is essential for their continuing growth and development.
   
   
2.  Families
   
   
   •  Parent Effectiveness Sessions (PES)
   
   The Parent Effectiveness Service which is a 10 week (half day per week) course on parenting skills enhancement and the promotion of family spirituality for the parents and/or guardians of street children.  The session aims to provide and/or enhance the knowledge and skills of the parents/parent substitutes on the care and management of street children with particular focus on enhancing family unity, cohesiveness and spirituality.  It also includes the effective use of behavior management techniques and to inform the parents about the rights of the child in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child and the various laws and issuances concerning children.
   
   
   •  Livelihood Development
   
   The primary purpose of this program is to augment the income of the family since this is the primary reason why children go out to the streets.  This is in the form of livelihood assistance or micro-credit entrepreneurship.  It is primarily intended for parents interested in any income generating project that are feasible with the resources available for the livelihood of families.  Usually, these are small entrepreneurial activities such as garment sewing, keeping a sari-sari store, food vending, newspaper vending, etc.
   
   
   •  Family Counseling
   
   These interventions focus on assisting family members to cope with anxieties, frustrations, traumas, etc. and enhance their capacities as a family towards the resolution of their problem specifically affecting the children.  The family counseling will be relevant to strengthen family support system.  This will involve family members in a series of activities focusing on their role adjustments and performance.  In the promotion of family value system, religious groups and other business sectors can be tapped to provide counseling, conduct group sessions and other related activities.
   
   
3.  Communities
   
   
   • Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC)
   
   The Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) is a council at the barangay level, subsumed under appropriate existing committee at the Barangay Development Council created to ensure protection and provide proper development for children in the barangay.  It places emphasis on actions at family and community levels where children in need of special protection belong.  Organization of PCPC shall ascertain the full implementation of the rights of every child to live in a society that offers or guarantees safety, health, good morale environment and facilities for his/her wholesome development.
   
   
   •  Advocacy and Social Mobilization
   
   It involves conduct of advocacy activities among the target communities, religious groups, business sector and the civil society as well as to create awareness and solicit support and involvement in the street children program.

D.        Capability Building of Implementors and Beneficiaries

Program implementors composed of direct service workers, i.e. social workers, street educators, barangay, police and volunteers shall be oriented on the implementing schemes of the program.  All trained direct service workers shall be in-charge to hold capability training seminars, sessions and workshops equipping indigenous leaders and volunteers and families of street kids with necessary knowledge, attitudes and skills in carrying out program for street children.

The capability-building component shall have as its ultimate objective to establish a component support system in the community that will respond to the needs and problems of street children and their families.

E.        Data-Banking, Documentation and Research

Continuous data banking shall be maintained based on the surveys/studies on street children, trainings and seminars conducted, and number of service providers trained. Documentation of cases and best practices/experiences shall be the basis for further policy and program development and replication among concerned LGUs/NGOs.  The purpose of this component is to strengthen and develop the information management system which could be used and shared with various stakeholders.  Linkages with existing information technological systems e.g. web-sites shall also be undertaken.  The conduct of research or studies are also encouraged for policy and program enrichment.

VII
Project Management

The Local Government Unit through the Street Children Task Forces (a.k.a) Street Children Working Committees or Clusters or its equivalent shall take the lead role in coordinating programs for street children.  The local government units with representatives coming from government agencies, non-government organizations, church groups, civic associations and community/people organizations which compose the Task Force has the primary function of planning, implementing, capability-building, advocacy and networking and evaluation.  (Please see attached institutional mechanism)

The DSWD shall provide technical assistance including capability building to the Task Forces/Cluster/Working Committees.

VIII
Fund Management

By virtue of the Local Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160), the funds for this purpose are approved by the Sanggunian who are mandated to enact measures and allocate funds for the social welfare services devolved to local government units.

The DSWD and other national agencies may augment the budget of LGUs and NGOs for street children projects either in the form of cash or donations in kind.  Funds allocated to the projects shall be properly accounted for and shall be managed by the receiving organizations which received the donations within the approved Work and Financial Plan.

All disbursements and liquidation of funds shall be in accordance with existing auditing rules and regulations or as stipulated in the Memorandum of Agreement between the implementing organizations and the DSWD or sponsors/donors.

IX
Reporting

1.         At the National Level, the DSWD Information Management Division of the Policy, Plan and Information System Bureau (PPISB) shall:


2.         The local task force shall submit a quarterly consolidated report to the DSWD Field Office not later than the 7th day of the proceeding month and to be forwarded to Central Office Information Management Division of Policy, Plans and Information System Bureau.

X
Monitoring and Evaluation

The Local Government Unit shall be in charge in the conduct of monitoring and assessment on the status of the project.  The Council for the Welfare of Children’s Sub Task Force on Street Children under the Children in Need of Special Protection together with the DSWD Field Office shall provide technical assistance and monitor the implementation of the work and financial plan as prepared by the local task force.  An annual Chairpersons Meeting will be convened by the Sub-Task Force on Street Children for discussion of thrust and directions.

XI
Effectivity

This Order takes effect immediately and revokes other issuances contrary to this.

Adopted: 21 Sept. 2000


DEFINITION OF TERMS

Child	-	a person under 18 years of age
Abused	-	Child a child who has been hurt physically, psychologically and emotionally or is exploited or deprived of his/her basic needs, care and affection by parents and/or other caretakers/guardians.
Substance Abuse	-	The use of substance such as inhalants (e.g. gasoline, glues, and solvents); cannabis, alcohol; methamphetamine ("shabu")' cough syrup, tobacco and psychoactive substances.
Children in-Conflict with the Law	-	refers to street children apprehended by the police because of crimes committed or violation of city ordinances with pending cases in court and currently staying in temporary detention centers for custodial care and training.
Case Management Team	-	It is multi-disciplinary team composed of social worker, street educator/field worker, houseparent, psychologists, psychiatrist, and other professionals for auxiliary services to formulate an appropriate intervention plan with the street child.

OPERATING PROCEDURES

A.
STREET CHILDREN OPERATIONS

1. Street Education and Social Preparation
   
   a.      Street education is an alternative response which includes delivery of basic services and provision of information to ensure the street children’s survival and protection against the harsh elements of street life.  Its ultimate purpose is to enable these children to come to a decision toward a better option and a clear direction in life, be it to return home or to go back to formal schooling or to avail of the services of foster homes and shelter homes for rehabilitation.
   
   If street education is ineffective and there are still street children in the streets, there is a need to conduct rescue operation.  Prior to rescue, street children should be socially and psychologically prepared.
   
   b.      Social Preparation
   
   Street children living/working in the streets need to be prepared for the entry of the surveillance team and other support staff involved in the street education or outreach operation.  The preparation is usually done by the team headed by social workers and street educators together with the representatives from barangay or other members of the community with various activities to be undertaken.
   

   b.1       Ocular survey/surveillance in critical areas.
   b.2       Informal talks (interview) are made by the team with the children.
   b.3       Involve the children in the process of preparation.
   b.4       Validation of needs and problems gathered by the team from baseline interviews.
   b.5       Assessment and action on children situation i.e. whether they decide to return to their families/to be placed in the centers or they will be included in the rescue operations.

2. Rescue Operation (this is only an option if the outreach or street education is ineffective)
   
   The rescue operation shall always be undertaken by the team composed of LGU social workers as the head and barangay officials as members in coordination with the law enforcement authorities such as PNP.  It is a pre-requisite for every operation that surveillance is conducted and rescue operations shall always be properly guided by the barangay officials.  The target clientele for rescue operations are:
   
   »Children, below eighteen years old, in the streets who are abandoned, neglected, abused and exploited including those who are begging, selling and roaming the streets.
   
   » Children, below eighteen years old, on the streets found to be engaged in sniffing rugby/solvents and other involvement to substance abuse
   
   The social worker shall ensure that the rescued children are properly turned-over to processing areas.
   
   
3. Processing/Holding Area
   
   Ensure that right after the rescue, children are placed in a processing/holding area.  It is a place where children are provided with immediate basic needs and protection assistance.  The place must have a space for sleeping quarters and with basic water, lights and communication facilities.
   
   a.      The drop-in or the reception and action center under the operation and management of LGUs or NGOs can be utilized as holding/processing centers with the following provisions to offer:
   
   
   —        food
   —        bath
   —        intake/interview/assessment
   —        initial counseling
   —        medical/drug testing
   
   
   b.      Release/discharge from holding area for referral either to:
   
   
   —        community based services (involvement of barangay and the family)
   —        center-based services
   —        drug rehabilitation
   
   
   c.       The child’s length of stay in the holding area is from one week to one month
   
   
4. Rehabilitation
   
   After the data assessment, the social worker will determine appropriate intervention and prompt action.  A disposition plan shall be jointly made and entered into with the client or in the case of minors, with parents or with relatives who can stand on behalf of the client.
   

   a.      Once a child is released from the holding center, the LGUs/NGOs will conduct the family case assessment.
   
   b.      Usually within a week, as part of the helping process, the social worker shall undertake family case management as basis for determining appropriate interventions of the child/family.  The role of NGOs and LGUs are:
   
   

   Child — NGO Center			Families-LGU
   »Home visit			»Home visit
   »  Case Management			» Preparation of Home Study Report
   	Individual/group counseling
   » Family counseling			» Conduct of PES Training
   »Provision of Services			»Educational services
   	available from the center		»Livelihood training assistance
   » Permanency Plans/Alternative Family Care			BCPC
   	q Foster Care
   			» After Care Services

5.  Return/Reintegration to Family/Community
   

a.      Release/Discharge of Children to Families

»      Parents who attended PES training should secure the following from the LGUs:

» Certificate of Live Birth

» Barangay Clearance
» 10 day PES certificate of appearance
» Kasunduan (Agreement) from parents that they will ensure that the children will not go back to the streets.



•  Release to Provinces (Balik-Probinsiya)
  
  

» Coordinate with LGUs through Field Offices
» After-Care Services: LGU social workers

b.      Follow-up and provision of after-care services shall be based on the rehabilitation plan. Coordination shall be made with the Region, institution or LGU concerned on the nature of disposition either community-based or institution/center-based.  Necessary documents of discharged cases, as initial findings of the case shall be sent to the receiving unit/office for reference.  For those who will be returned to their families and communities, social preparation shall be undertaken for the reintegration of the discharged children in their own families/centers.

c.       Organization of former street children into groups for continuing protection, development and participation towards sustainability.

B.
Institutional Mechanism

1.  Project Management

The DSWD Field Office through the Regional Council for the Welfare of Children should take the lead in coordinating programs for street children.  The local government units with representatives coming from government agencies, non-governmental organizations, church groups, civic associations and community/people organizations which compose the Task Force has the primary function of planning, implementing, capability-building, advocacy and networking and evaluation.

In support of the implementation of the program, committees or task-groups composition at the local level have the following functions and activities:

a. Programs Committee

» Provide inventory and monitoring of centers and institutions involved

» provide technical assistance in case management, training of service providers and center management

» recommend agency for licensing and accreditation of programs and services, facilities, capacity, budget and staff and of technical staff to meet standards

» conduct inter-agency meetings for sharing/consultation, dialogues/coordination and reporting

»  recommend fund augmentation support, especially to participating centers and institutions

» identify the needed capability building of task force members

b.      Legal Affairs Committee

» provide legal assistance and counsel to the initiatives of the task force, especially during rescue operations and litigation of cases against street children abusers and exploiters

c.       Micro-Clusters Committee

»  Direct implementation of the Parent Effectiveness Sessions to parents of street children

»  Identify street children and families to support them to avail of the following assistance:
d.      Law Enforcement

» assist during rescue and reach-out operation and referral of street children
» arrest poly-drug users and syndicates manipulating street children
» assist in the reactivation/organization of BCPCs
» organization and development of Women and Children's Concerns Desk in all Police Station around the country
» conduct intelligence operations towards the neutralization of criminal syndicates preying on street children, if necessary

e.      Media Affairs and Public Information

»  advocacy
» provide information, education and communication to the public government and public agencies and organizations and individuals on the activities of the project through media interviews and guestings, features, press releases, updates, column feeds, press conferences, billboards, posters, flyers and videos

f.        Resource Generation and Special Events

» conduct special events for resource-generation and awareness -enhancement activities for the project through: meeting with corporations for financial support, ballroom party, Bingo social, shows (e.g., plays and other charitable activities)

g.      Volunteer Mobilization Group

» The main responsibility of this group is to market the concept to various civic, religious and other groups to participate and commit themselves to become part of the project.

h.       Secretariat

» The local task force shall be responsible in identifying their own secretariat.  The secretariat role is to provide coordinative services and referral services to the various committees.  It shall be responsible in preparing reports for submission to the Regional Council for the Welfare of Children.

The roles of Regional Council for the Welfare of Children (RCWC) is to coordinate with the LGUs or Task Forces in consolidating the various work and financial plans.  It is responsible in preparing annual report for submission to DSWD-Central Office.

Suggested Roles and Functions of LGUs and
other National Government Agencies Involved

Local Government Units

» Enact child-friendly ordinances particularly those affecting the street children and other children in need of special protection;

» Integrate into their development plans, policies, programs and projects aimed at advancing the rights of children, enhancing the right and welfare of parents and overall development of families;

» Establish City/Municipal/Barangay Councils for the Protection of Children;

» Work for the establishment of inter-local government cooperative and collaborative undertakings for children and the delivery of basic services for them and their families;

» Allocate/provide funds for the implementation of programs, projects and activities to respond to the needs of street children and their families;

» Mobilize the active participation of the non-government organizations, people’s organizations, financing and other institutions to support programs and projects on street children.

Department of Interior and Local Government

» Mobilize the local governments in the organization, reactivation and strengthening of the City/Municipality/Barangay Council for the Protection of Children;

» Provide technical assistance to LGUs in the formulation of their development plans particularly with regard to the rights of the children, enhancing their rights, and the welfare of their families in collaboration with DSWD and other line agencies;

» Monitor the extent/status of implementation of the LGUs plan of action for street children jointly with DSWD.

» Coordinate with DSWD and other concerned agencies on matters relative to the implementation of Philippine Plan of Actions for street children; and

» Advocate for the institutionalization of the initiative gained under the AusAID program on Street Children and conscientious implementation by LGUs of child friendly laws especially those affecting the welfare of street children.

» Access LGUs to possible funding support from external sources.

Philippine National Police

» Ensure the creation of a functional Women and Children's Desk with trained Police Officers;

» Enforce child protection laws;

» Conduct surveillance and arrest syndicates controlling street children and their families.

Department of Social Welfare and Development

» Provide technical assistance and training in the formulation of policy guidelines and principles in the development of programs and in the mobilization and organization of communities towards preventive and protective measures for children and their families;

» Provide technical assistance to Local Government Units (LGUs) and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) on the process of rescue and rehabilitation of children and establishment and management of crisis intervention units at local levels;

» Establish data-based information system on street children in the national level in collaboration with the LGUs and NGOs;

» Assist in the rescue generation for the program.

» Provide capability-building activity to program managers and service providers

Department of Health

» Provide technical assistance to LGUs in their planning and implementation re: prevention of disease of the children and delivery of basic health services;

» Formulate specific guidelines for effective implementation of programs/projects/activities for street children

Department of Education, Culture and Sports

» Provide families with information and assistance on problems pertaining to education;

» Provide non-formal education or other alternative educational systems and livelihood skills training;

» Assist parents in providing education and care for their normal and special children; and

» Provide venues for formal and non-formal students to participate in contests and socio-cultural activities.

Department of Trade and Industries

» Provide assistance in preparing street children and their parents to engage in livelihood projects through the facilitation of availment of skills training and entrepreneurship training;

» Facilitate access of parents of street children to livelihood assistance in terms of information on sources of financing, raw materials sourcing, design and product development, marketing and advisory/consultancy services; and

» Develop awareness and involvement in consumer welfare programs of the government such as consumer education and other related programs/projects.

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

» Advocate for the promotion of children’s rights

NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS

» Partners with NGAs in knowledge generation and database, planning, developing and advocating child rights and programs for street children specifically to:

•  Recognize and support youth and street children's organization
• Provide financial and moral support to program for children
• Develop programs in support of the government for the prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration of children into their families and communities;
• Establish a system of networking with GOs for the provision of shelter homes and support services

BUSINESS SECTORS

» Partner with NGAs and NGOs on various projects such as:

• Provide sponsorship/scholarship to out-of-school youth (OSY) and other deserving children in the center/community for formal or non-formal education
• Sponsor sports festival, with recreational sports equipment/materials in communities or in rehabilitation centers
• Conduct of symposia in business communities to increase awareness on street children issues

RELIGIOUS GROUPS

» Provide continuing education program focusing on value formation and leadership training for the children and youth leaders as well as parents and interested members of the community

» Partner with NGAs and NGOs to promote/strengthen family enrichment program through the conduct of the following:

•  Parenting Enrichment Session (PES) with focus on family spirituality
•  Livelihood skills training
•  Health education program specifically on the use of alternative medicine e.g. herbal
•  Campaign against unhealthy practices on abortion, pre-marital sex, drug addiction and other issues on reproductive health
•  Lobby for the passage of children's laws in legislations

» Organize/coordinate with other sectors in addressing the needs of street children