The child protection programme of Child Welfare at national level includes three sub-programmes.

Isolabantwana: Eye on the Children
This programme, operational since 2003, was initiated in response to the increased incidence of child abuse reflected in CWSA statistics. Isolabantwana is a community mobilisation model for the care of children. It was designed by Cape Town Child Welfare, shared with the child welfare movement and is recognized internationally as a good practice model.

Isolabantwana uses the services of adult volunteers with a compassion for children. They are recruited, screened and trained by CWSA to assist social workers in the prevention and management of child abuse. Volunteers provide a one-stop 24hrs protection service for children and safe houses with safety parents opening their homes to children in crisis for up to 48hrs until a social worker can intervene. Isolabantwana educators create awareness on the subject of child abuse in communities.

To date, the provincial staff of CWSA, together with member organisations and
1 440 trained volunteers, has facilitated Isolabantwana in 74 predominately un-serviced communities and assisted between 8 000-10 000 children annually in need of care and protection.

The implementation of the Isolabantwana programme has generated a number of CWSA training manuals.

Foster care and adoption
Foster care and adoption are known ways of protecting and providing alternate care for children. However, the impact of HIV and AIDS on children has greatly increased the number of children being cared for by foster families. This has motivated CWSA to look at revising our standards of care and protection with a view to developing a truly South African model of foster care that takes into account current needs and challenges. In view of this, the research and development of CWSA Guidelines and Standards for Foster Care is a work in progress.

In response to the international trend of inter-country adoption, CWSA researched and compiled Guidelines for Inter-country Adoption between 2004 and 2008, and has approached the Registrar of Adoptions to assist in the drafting of accreditation procedures for adoption. Adoption is a permanent care option also considered by persons in response to the HIV and AIDS pandemic.

Commercial exploitation of children
Child prostitution, the use of children in pornography and the trafficking of women and children are international phenomenon and a growing concern for South Africa. Initially, South Africa was a country of transit with children moved from here to other destinations. But in recent years we have become a country of both transit and destination.

CWSA initiatives in relation to these issues are varied and include:

• The development of forums to create awareness of the specialized services needed for child victims of trafficking and commercial exploitation.

• Ensuring legislation is in place to protect this group of children.

• Workshops and training countrywide.

• Linkages forged with international bodies working in this field.

• Partnerships formed with other African countries and local organizations to develop Codes of Conduct and a good practice model for children affected by violence.