‘Parental Helpline’ to Help Parents and Children with Problems
Mangaluru: Addressing the media persons during a press meet held at Mangalore Press Club, Sr Dulcine Crasta, Director, Shanthi Sandesha Trust, Resource and Development Centre on child Rights said, “Parental Helpline” is a new initiative of ‘Shanthi Sandesha Trust’, Resource and Development centre on Child Rights, in collaboration with UNICEF, Hyderabad. Parental Helpline is introduced in Karnataka for the first time as ‘Telephonic Helpline’ for parents. The programme will be carried out initially in Mangalore and Udupi District and then extended to other districts of Karnataka. It aims to help the parents and their children who are facing a variety of problems, and provides counselling services wherever necessary.”
“All the parents take care of their child’s biological needs, provide safe, nurturing and supportive environment that allows the children to grow in a healthy manner. But due to the present family structure, economic pressure, social norms and attitudes of children and parents, families are disorganised and children are exposed to higher risk. Parental Helpline enables the parents to know the development specific needs of children, and child protection tactics and use them in parenting. It also helps to build a healthy relationship between parents and children and for the integral development of children. Strengthening families is the focus of Parental Helpline Programme.” added Sr Dulcine.
Parental Helpline includes the following Services:
– Awareness to parents on process of Child Development: At present parents lack knowledge on the process of child development which results in poor parenting skills. Parental helpline will organise awareness programmes to parents in schools, Anganwadies and Communities about process and areas of child development
– Helping parents to understand the problems faced by their children: Parental Helpline will also educate the parents on the possible problems faced by children in each development stage and causes of those problems. Parents will be trained on the parenting strategies to deal with those problems.
– Guidance to parents through telephonic helpline: Telephonic Helpline is an important factor of the programme. Parents facing any problems in parenting a child or a child is in problems related to the developmental process may contact the ‘Parental Helpline’ – 0824/2420111 OR 9483748536 to share their problems with experts and get suggestions and guidance in providing age specific parenting to children. The parent or guardian once registers through a call will be provided regular follow-up service.
– Counselling services to those parents and children who need help: Parental Helpline counsellors will assess the problems of the parents/children who call on ‘Parental Helpline’ and provide Counseling services to those parents and children who require personal therapeutic help. It enables the parents and children to get a solution for their problems and continuous assistance in parenting.
– Referral to professionals: While counselling the clients, if the problems, the counsellors will also make an assessment of the required referral service with regard to family support or higher treatment such cases will be referred to support service organisation or mental health professionals.
Speaking on ‘Who can Call Parental Helpline?’, Nikesh Shetty, President, Child Welfare Committee, Mangaluru said, “Any parent having any problem with regard to parenting such as physical developmental delays, behavioral problems of children, children with transition of adolescent, adjustment and relationship problems, emotional disturbance and malfunction among children, problems related to academic performance and parents whose children do not have any specific problem but the parent wants to practice better parenting skills, can approach the Parental Helpline.
“Teachers or care providers can also approach the helpline to provide standard care for children and improve their professional skills of dealing with children. Children also facing problems at home or want help in understanding oneself or want to experience better childhood can approach Parental Helpline. General Public with an intention to help a particular child in a family can approach the Helpline for intervention.” added Shetty.
Shanthi Sandesha Trust, Resource and Development Centre on child Rights is collaborating with UNICEF, Hyderabad and Karnataka State Integrated Child Protection Society to strengthen Child Protection system in the State. Integrated Child Protection Scheme of Government of India is focused toward building a safety net for children through various programmes and activities. Strengthening families to reduce the vulnerability of children is one of the objectives of the scheme. In this connection ‘Parental Helpline’ Programme is initiated as an innovative programme to strengthen families and support children for an integrated childhood.
Other members present on the dais during the press meet were Evelye Bennis, Lecturer, School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya, Mangaluru and Kumar Shettigar, Institutional Care Protection Officer, District Child Protection Office. Mangaluru.
Parental Helpline Numbers:
Tel. No.0824-2420111
Mobile. No.9483748536
For More details please contact:
Shanthi Sandesha Trust,
Resource and development centre on child rights
Hoige Bazaar, Mangalore-575001
www.shanthisandesha.org
shanthidhamcsp@gmail.com
