Submit Applications for Child and Youth Care Centres Programme (South Africa)

The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) is inviting eligible non-profit organisations to apply for funding to provide residential care and support services through registered Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCCs). The programme supports therapeutic, trauma-informed residential care for children in need of care and protection, including those with disabilities, behavioural challenges, substance dependency, chronic illnesses, and other complex needs.

About the Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCCs) Funding Programme

The Western Cape Department of Social Development provides funding to registered Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCCs) that offer safe, therapeutic residential care for vulnerable children and young people.

The programme aims to ensure that children requiring alternative care receive comprehensive support through trauma-informed, child-centred services that promote safety, healing, education, life skills development, family reunification, and long-term wellbeing.

Funding also supports the expansion of specialist residential care services, particularly in underserved rural areas across the Western Cape.

Programme Objectives

The programme aims to:

• Provide safe residential care for children in need of care and protection.
• Deliver child-centred and trauma-informed care.
• Support children with complex developmental, behavioural, medical, and social needs.
• Promote family reunification where appropriate.
• Improve children’s educational, emotional, and life outcomes.
• Strengthen specialised residential care services across the province.
• Expand access to services in underserved rural communities.
• Ensure compliance with the Children’s Act, 38 of 2005 and related regulations.

Services Supported

Funding supports a broad range of residential care and support services.

Therapeutic Residential Care

Eligible programmes include services for:

• Children in need of care and protection.
• Children with entry-level substance abuse challenges.
• Children living with chronic illnesses.
• Children with disabilities.
• Children with moderate behavioural needs.

Specialist Residential Programmes

Funding also supports specialist services for:

• Children with challenging behaviour.
• Older children requiring residential care.
• Children with physical or intellectual disabilities.
• Street-connected children.
• Children with substance dependency.
• Children experiencing psychiatric challenges.
• Children affected by human trafficking.

Priority is given to strengthening specialist programmes in underserved rural areas, including the Overberg and West Coast regions.

Required Programme Components

Funded Child and Youth Care Centres must provide comprehensive support services, including:

• Therapeutic care.
• Trauma-informed interventions.
• Educational support.
• Life skills development.
• Individual development plans.
• Permanency planning.
• Temporary safe care.
• Family reunification services.
• Aftercare support.
• Healthcare services.
• Access to education.
• Appropriate security measures.
• Ongoing child protection services.

All services must be delivered using a child-centred approach that promotes the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of every child.

Funding Information

Funding is available to eligible Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCCs) delivering approved residential care services under the programme.

Funding supports organisations that comply with legislative, operational, and programme requirements established by the Western Cape Department of Social Development.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• Registered Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs).
• Registered Section 21 Companies.
• Organisations operating registered Child and Youth Care Centres under the Children’s Act, 38 of 2005.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Operate a registered Child and Youth Care Centre.
• Comply with the Children’s Act, 38 of 2005.
• Maintain sound financial management systems.
• Have effective governance and management structures.
• Demonstrate appropriate human resource practices.
• Maintain a building maintenance plan.
• Provide suitable residential facilities and furnishings.
• Have a verifiable physical address.
• Meet all reporting and funding requirements.
• Complete annual organisational self-assessments.
• Comply with all programme conditions.

Child Safeguarding Requirements

Applications must include a comprehensive child safeguarding policy that addresses:

• Staff recruitment and screening.
• Child protection procedures.
• Incident reporting processes.
• Prevention of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
• Safeguarding responsibilities for staff and volunteers.
• Risk management procedures.

Strong safeguarding systems are an essential eligibility requirement.

Additional Requirements for Provincial Organisations

Provincial organisations with affiliated branches must:

• Maintain governance policies that allow responsibility for affiliated organisations when required.
• Provide documentary evidence supporting these governance arrangements.

Assessment Process

Applications will be assessed against:

• Programme eligibility requirements.
• Compliance with the Children’s Act, 38 of 2005.
• Compliance with applicable norms and standards.
• Organisational governance.
• Financial management capacity.
• Child safeguarding arrangements.
• Quality of residential care services.
• Compliance with funding conditions.

In addition, all programmes must receive annual approval from the Directorate Facility Management.

Why This Programme Matters

Children who cannot safely remain with their families require high-quality residential care that promotes healing, development, education, and long-term stability.

This funding programme strengthens South Africa’s child protection system by supporting Child and Youth Care Centres that provide specialised therapeutic care, family reunification services, educational support, and safe residential environments. It also helps expand specialist care services to underserved rural communities where access remains limited.

How to Apply

Eligible organisations should follow these steps:

1. Review the programme guidelines and eligibility criteria.
2. Confirm that the Child and Youth Care Centre is properly registered.
3. Prepare all required governance and compliance documents.
4. Develop or update the required child safeguarding policy.
5. Gather supporting financial, operational, and facility management documentation.
6. Complete the official funding application.
7. Submit the application before the specified closing date.
8. Participate in the assessment process conducted by the Western Cape Department of Social Development.

Tips for Applicants

To strengthen your application:

• Demonstrate compliance with the Children’s Act.
• Clearly describe your therapeutic care model.
• Highlight specialist residential programmes.
• Include comprehensive safeguarding policies.
• Provide evidence of qualified staff.
• Explain your permanency planning and reunification processes.
• Ensure governance and financial documentation is complete.
• Show how your organisation supports children’s education, healthcare, and life skills development.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid the following:

• Submitting incomplete applications.
• Missing required safeguarding policies.
• Providing insufficient evidence of compliance with the Children’s Act.
• Omitting financial or governance documentation.
• Failing to demonstrate therapeutic service capacity.
• Not explaining permanency planning or family reunification services.
• Ignoring annual approval requirements from the Directorate Facility Management.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply for this funding?

Registered Non-Profit Organisations and Section 21 Companies operating registered Child and Youth Care Centres under the Children’s Act are eligible to apply.

What types of children does the programme support?

The programme supports children in need of care and protection, including those with disabilities, behavioural challenges, substance dependency, chronic illnesses, psychiatric challenges, and children affected by human trafficking.

Are specialist residential programmes eligible?

Yes. Specialist programmes serving children with complex needs are supported, with priority given to expanding services in underserved rural areas.

Is a child safeguarding policy required?

Yes. Every application must include a comprehensive child safeguarding policy covering staff screening, incident reporting, and measures to prevent abuse and exploitation.

What legislation governs the programme?

The programme operates under the Children’s Act, 38 of 2005, together with applicable norms, standards, and Department of Social Development funding requirements.

How are applications assessed?

Applications are evaluated based on programme eligibility, legislative compliance, organisational capacity, safeguarding systems, governance, financial management, and service quality.

Is annual programme approval required?

Yes. All funded Child and Youth Care Centre programmes must receive annual approval from the Directorate Facility Management.

Conclusion

The Western Cape Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCCs) Funding Programme provides vital support to organisations delivering residential care and specialised services for vulnerable children. By funding trauma-informed care, education, family reunification, healthcare, and life skills development, the programme strengthens South Africa’s child protection system while helping ensure that children receive safe, nurturing, and development-focused care in compliant residential facilities.