[ DSWD DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR NO. 06, September 20, 1991 ]
IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES FOR REPUBLIC ACT 6972 (AN ACT ESTABLISHING A DAY CARE CENTER IN EVERY BARANGAY, INSTITUTING THEREIN A TOTAL DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTION OF CHILDREN PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES)
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to defend the right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and to provide them with special protection against all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to their development.
Filipino children, up to six years of age deserve the best care and attention at the family and community levels because the quality of care provided at this time will determine the kind of youth and adult we will have in the future. Thereby, a Day Care Center is hereby established in every barangay to provide the total development and protection of children.
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. - As used in these Guidelines unless specifically provided otherwise:
2.1 Day Care service is an arrangement whereby supplemental parental care is provided to a child who may be neglected, potentially neglected, abused, exploited or abandoned part of the day where the parents cannot attend to the needs of the child.
Supplemental parental care is temporary care provided by the Day Care Worker who attends to the child's needs, ensures his/her comfort and safety and provides creative experiences, mental stimulation, cognitive skills development, and value formation.
2.2 Child under this Act is a person six years of age and below.
2.3 A potentially neglected child is a child whose mother is working outside the home or busy with home and other activities and therefore child is left alone part of the day without any adult to provide care and supervision.
2.4 A neglected child is one whose basic needs have been deliberately unattended or inadequately attended which may occur in two ways:
- Physical neglect when the child is malnourished, ill clad, and without proper shelter.
- Emotional neglect is when the child is maltreated, raped, or seduced; when child is exploited, overworked or made to work under conditions not conducive to good health; or is made to beg in the streets or public places; or when child is in moral danger or exposed to gambling; prostitution and vices.
A child is unattended when left alone without proper supervision and provisions.
2.5 An abused child is one who is unreasonably deprived of the basic needs for survival or is inflicted with physical injuries by parents, guardians, or custodian to a degree that if not immediately remedied could seriously impair the child's growth and development or result in permanent disability or even death; this includes sexual and psychological abuse.
2.6 An abandoned child is a child who has no proper parental care and whose parents have deserted him for a period of at least 6 continuous months.
2.7 An exploited child is a child who was induced or forced by parents/guardians or other persons or circumstances to indulge in activities which endanger his moral, emotional and social development.
2.8 A day care center is a facility in a barangay where children who are 3 to 6 years old are cared for during part of the day by an accredited Day Care Worker.
2.9 A day care worker is a child care worker in a Day Care Center providing supplemental parental care and early childhood enrichment activities.
2.10 A sanctuary home is a licensed foster home or a child caring facility in the area.
2.11 Accreditation is the process of ensuring that minimum standards of day care service are met.
2.12 Accredited day care Center is a Day Care Center which meets the minimum standards of Day Care Service.
2.13 An accredited day care worker is a child care worker trained on early childhood development and who has met the minimum requirements of a Day Care Worker.
SECTION 3. The following guidelines shall be followed in the implementation of Day Care Service in the community:
3.1 Determination of need
3.1.1 |
Sources of data: The number of pre-school children in given barangay (0-6 years old) shall be determined from the following sources: (a) family/community survey; (b) barangay demographic profile; (c) results of the operation timbang; (d) others |
3.1.2 |
Usage of data: (a) The data shall be shared with the barangay chairperson who will share the same with the community during an assembly. The Supervising Social Welfare Officer (SSWO) shall explain to the barangay council and the community the rationale for providing a child with early childhood development activities and come up with plans to establish a day care center in the area. Only one day care center shall be established in every barangay. The SSWO shall likewise explain the need for an intake interview with the parents to further identify the specific needs of each child. b. After the community assembly, the social worker shall schedule the visits to the families of identified children for day care for intake. |
3.1.3 |
Intake - The intake shall be individually conducted by the Supervising Social Welfare Officer through home visit and interview using the attached intake form. (Appendix A*) During the visit, the Supervising Social Welfare Officer shall explain to the parents the following: |
a.1 Consent of parents: - The parents shall sign the intake form indicating their consent for their child's total development and protection. However in cases of children who are abused neglected, and exploited, such consent shall not be required. a.2 Birth certificate: - The parents shall present the child's birth certificate to the SSWO. If the child's birth is not registered with the local Civil Registrar, the parents shall be assisted to ensure registration of the child's birth. a.3 Immunization: - (1) The Supervising Social Welfare Officer shall record the types and dates of Immunization of the child in the attached Initial and Annual Health Record; (2) Children not immunized shall be referred to the Health Center. Arrangements with the health center shall be made for mass immunization and medical and physical check-up of the children. (3) Each child must have a complete immunization for the prevention of tuberculosis, diptheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, poliomyelitis and such other diseases for which and vaccines have been developed for administration to children up to six (6) years of age. a.4 Child development checklist - During the home visit, the Supervising Social Welfare Officer shall interview the parents and observe the child in order to accomplish the child development checklist which shall serve as basis for the DCW in preparation of the WPAG. a.5 Early detection and prevention of disability - Using the CDC, the Supervising Social Welfare Officer and the DCW shall identify who among the children have disabilities. If child is found with disabilities and illnesses, appropriate referral shall be made. |
SECTION 4. Services for Children and Their Families in the Day Care Center
| 4.1 | Care for children |
4.1.1 |
Care for children by an accredited Child Care Worker during part of the day or if feasible during the night while their parents are at work, shall be provided, under the supervision of the Supervising Social Welfare Officer. |
4.1.2 |
Early childhood development activities such as value formation, mental stimulation and activities supervised play, shall be provided to the children. |
4.1.3 |
Monitoring of growth and nutrition of children shall be regularly monitored by the Day Care Worker on a monthly basis. |
4.1.4 |
Malnourished children shall be referred to the DSWD Unit Office for supplemental feeding. |
4.2. |
Sanctuary for abused, neglected or exploited children |
4.2.1 |
Foster homes shall be developed and maintained by the Senior Social Worker of DSWD where abused, neglected or exploited children shall be temporarily placed for protective custody. |
4.2.2 |
If there is a licensed child caring facility in the area, coordination shall be made by the Senior Social Worker, for referral of abused, neglected and exploited children. |
4.2.3 |
A barangay level support system or a barangay level "Bantay Bata" shall be established to urgently respond to the needs of the victims and to prevent further abuse, neglect and exploitation. Coordination with the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (DCPC) or in its absence the Barangay Development Council or any existing organization shall be made. The same group shall be responsible for the prevention of abuse, neglect and exploitation in their respective areas which includes information dissemination, education, advocacy. They shall also be responsible for the protection and rehabilitation of the victims and assistance to their families. Part of the group's responsibility shall be to provide surveillance on illegal abortions and the presence of incompetent and untrained hilots. |
4.3. |
Referral and support system for pregnant mothers |
4.3.1 |
All pregnant mothers of Day Care children shall be motivated to have pre-natal and neo-natal care and shall be referred to the Health Center. |
4.3.2 |
Appropriate supplemental feeding shall be extended to pregnant mothers whose children are "enrollees" in the Feeding Centers. Others who are not under this category shall be referred to the Department of Health under their Food Assistance Program. |
4.3.3 |
The untrained hilots shall be provided at the Rural Health Unit with the needed basic training for normal delivery and also be trained to recognize high-risk pregnancies. |
SECTION 5. Selection of a Day Care Worker
5.1. The following are qualifications of a day care worker |
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5.1.1 |
Must be female, between 18 to 45 years old, single or married; |
5.1.2 |
Must be at least a high school graduate; |
5.1.3 |
Must be a resident of the barangay; |
5.1.4 |
Must be physically healthy; if physically disabled she should be capable of performing the required tasks; |
5.1.5 |
Must have a good moral character; |
5.1.6 |
Must preferably have experience in working with pre-school children; |
5.1.7 |
Must undergo training and accept technical supervision from DSWD; |
5.1.8 |
Must render full time service as day care worker, and |
5.1.9 |
Must sign a contract to serve as day care worker for at least two (2) years and serve as such bassed on a satisfactory performance. |
5.2 Procedure for selection |
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5.2.1 |
Initial screening shall be made by the Supervising Social Welfare Officer in coordination with the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC), if existing. If not, coordination shall be with the Barangay Development Council. |
5.2.2 |
Qualified applicants shall be endorsed to a Municipal Inter-agency Committee composed of the DSWD, DILG, DOH, DECS, and LGU, for final screening, and selection. |
5.2.3 |
Chairmanship of the Municipal Inter-agency Committee shall be given to the representative of the local government unit preferably the Chairman of the Social Service Committee. |
SECTION 6. Training of Day Care Workers
6.1 All day care workers shall undergo an on-the-job training (OJT) for one and a half months to be conducted by the Supervising Social Welfare Officer and the Day Care Worker-Trainor in the Resource Center before assuming her functions and responsibilities. |
SECTION 7. Accreditation of Day Care Worker and Day Care Center
7.1. Minimum standards for accreditation |
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7.1.1 |
Minimum standards for the accreditation of day care worker and day care center shall be separate and shall be set by the Bureau of Child and Youth Welfare of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. |
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7.1.2 |
Accreditation assessment shall be conducted by the DSWD Regional/provincial Office based on the standards set and to be forwarded to the Bureau for the issuance of accreditation certificate. |
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7.1.3 |
Day care centers operated by non-government agencies shall only be accredited upon issuance of a license to operate to the agency. |
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7.2 |
Suspension or revocation of accreditation |
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7.2.1 |
Accreditation may be suspended or revoked under the following circumstances: |
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a. The center is being used for immoral purposes; b. The children are being neglected; c. The center is so unsanitary so as to make it unfit for children; d. The center is located in a place where children are unduly exposed to danger, e. The center has by any act or omission shown its incompetence or unworthiness to continue caring for children; and f. The center continuously deviates from existing policies and procedures set by the DSWD after extension of technical assistance. |
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SECTION 8. Monitoring and Evaluation
8.1 |
Monitoring of the implementation of day care shall be regularly conducted by the Regional Office and SSWO shall visit all centers at least once a quarter. |
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8.2 |
Technical assistance shall be provided by the Regional Office and the Bureau to maintain standards. |
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8.3 |
Regular audit shall be conducted by the Bureau to determine effectiveness of the service to the children. |
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SECTION 9. Criteria for Eligibility for the Monthly Allowance
9.1 |
Must be an accredited Day Care Worker in an accredited Day Care Center. |
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9.2 |
Must be holding two sessions a day (four hours per session) in the same Day Care Center. |
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9.3 |
Must conduct sessions on ECD activities throughout the year. |
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SECTION 10. Transitory Provisions
10.1 |
All accredited Day Care Workers who have been in the service prior to the approval of the Act shall be entitled to the monthly allowance effective January 1991. |
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10.2 |
A Day Care Worker holding two accredited centers in separate barangays is only allowed to receive P500.00 monthly allowance. However, in 1992 the DCW must only concentrate in one Day Care Center. |
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10.3 |
For new Day Care Workers in 1991, they shall only receive the allowance upon assumption to duty, provided they are accredited. |
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SECTION 11. Implementing Agencies
11.1 |
The Total Development and Protection for Children Program shall be implemented by the Sangguniang Barangay. It may call upon private volunteers to assist in the care and provision of consultative services to children. |
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11.2 |
The Department of Social Welfare and Development shall be responsible for the following: |
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11.2.1 |
Formulation of the criteria for selection qualifications, training and accreditation of day care workers. |
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11.2.2 |
Setting of standards for the implementation of the day care program. |
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11.2.3 |
Coordination of activities of the government and non-government organizations relative to the total development and protection of children. |
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11.2.4 |
Protection and assistance of abused, neglected or exploited children and call upon other government agencies to help said children. |
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11.3 |
The Department of Interior and Local Government shall be tasked to: |
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11.3.1 |
Organize the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children in every barangay. |
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12.1 |
The monthly allowance of not less than P500.00 for one accredited Day Care Worker per barangay shall be taken from the budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development appropriated for that purpose. |
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12.2 |
Budget for the establishment of new Day Care Centers in selected depressed barangays shall be subject to the availability of funds. However, the concerned city, province or municipality shall provide financial assistance for the establishment of a barangay day care center within their respective locality. |
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12.3 |
The Office of the President, shall extend financial assistance in support of the Day Care Centers to be taken from a portion of health programs under official aid or official debt arrangements from foreign countries. |
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For compliance.
Adopted: 20 September 1991
(Sgd.) MITA PARDO DE TAVERA, M.D.
Secretary