04/09/2026
PUTTING CHILDREN FIRST: FAMILY PRESERVATION AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.
The Free State Department of Social Development, through its Intake Section, conducted a Family Preservation Awareness Campaign on 01 September 2026 at the Tshireletsong CYCC Hall. The campaign was facilitated by Social Worker Mrs Molatlhegi-Macheli under the theme “Putting Children First: Promoting Effective Co-parenting Following Separation.”
The purpose of the campaign was to promote child-centred co-parenting, strengthen family functioning, and assist parents in understanding how their actions and interactions can influence the well-being of their children following separation. The focus was on assisting parents to understand the importance of placing the best interests of their children at the centre of parenting decisions, particularly where parents are no longer in an intimate relationship or are experiencing difficulties in working together as co-parents.
The programme included professional input from relevant multidisciplinary stakeholders, including the Department of Social Development, Department of Health, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development – Office of the Family Advocate, Department of Education, and Childline, followed by a discussion and question-and-answer session.
The campaign forms part of the Intake Section’s family preservation services and is intended to strengthen family functioning, promote constructive parental communication, encourage responsible parenting, and reduce the negative impact of parental conflict on children. It was informed by family-related matters encountered within social work practice, including parental separation, communication difficulties, parental conflict, disagreements regarding parenting responsibilities, and challenges relating to care and contact arrangements.
Ms Lerato Sokhaya, a Clinical Psychologist from the Department of Health (FSPC), provided a presentation on the impact of parental conflict on children’s emotional and psychological well-being and also explained the referral procedure.
Advocate Khera from the Department of Justice, Office of the Family Advocate, presented on mediation, parenting plans, and parental disputes. The Department of Justice was also represented by Mr M. Makung, Family Law Assistant; Ms L. Moloko, Family Law Assistant; Ms Moya, Family Counsellor; and Ms R. Mothobi, Legal Intern.
The Department of Education was represented by Ms R. Setlhare, School Social Worker, who presented on supporting learners within the school premises.
Ms Nosithebe Lephuthi, Social Worker from Childline, provided a presentation on counselling, parenting skills, and family support, including a range of services offered by Childline to families, individuals, and couples.
Ms Thandeka Melesi, Social Worker from the Department of Social Development, Prevention and Early Intervention, presented on the challenges faced by care and contact clients under the topic “Putting Children First: Understanding Effective Co-parenting After Separation.”
The awareness campaign was attended by parents, caregivers, and social service professionals, including supervisors. As the social worker who initiated this important programme, Mrs Molatlhegi-Macheli plans to continue the awareness campaign as an ongoing initiative that will be conducted at least twice a year in other parts of Bloemfontein. The aim is to create awareness and provide practical information and support to parents and caregivers experiencing challenges with co-parenting following parental separation.
The campaign emphasised that co-parenting does not mean that parents have to be friends or agree on everything. It means finding appropriate ways to communicate, make parenting decisions, and fulfil parental responsibilities while keeping the child’s needs at the centre. Effective co-parenting requires parents to distinguish between their adult relationship and their parental responsibilities. Parents were reminded that children should not:
Be forced to choose between their parents; Be used as messengers between parents; Be expected to report information about one parent to the other; Be exposed unnecessarily to parental arguments; Be asked to take sides; Be exposed to negative comments about one parent from the other; Be made to feel responsible for resolving parental disagreements.
✨ WORKING TOGETHER TODAY FOR STRONGER FAMILIES’ TOMORROW. ✨
