SOCIAL SERVICES OF THE DEPARTMENT
LEAP PROGRAMME
INTRODUCTION
LEAP is a cash transfer programme which is aimed at empowering the extremely poor, disadvantaged and vulnerable population to improve upon their lives. Leap is implemented by the Department of social development under the ministry of Gender, children and social protection.
OBJECTIVES
Leap targets extremely poor households with at least one or more members that belong to one of these categories:
- Caregivers of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC)
- The elderly 65 years+, without support
- Persons with severer disabilities without productive capacity
- Pregnant women and/ or children below 1 year.
SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME
INTRODUCTION
The Ghana school feeding program is an initiative of the comprehensive Africa cultural development programme. The pillar 3 goal of the program which seeks to enhance food security and reduce hunger in line with UN Sustainable Development goals on hunger, poverty and malnutrition.
School feeding program also seek to promote the health and well-being of the nation’s children. In Ghana one hot meal a day is provided to pupils in public schools
OBJECTIVES
The objective of the school feeding program is to address short term hunger and reducing nutrient deficiency, improving attendance and school performance, encouraging in healthy eating habit and supporting local agriculture economy.
The programme is a targeted social safety net that provides benefit both educational as well as health related ones to vulnerable children thus causing a rise in their enrollment rate, a reduction in cases of absenteeism and providing the food security situation at the household level.
PERSON WITH DISABILITY (PWD)
INTRODUCTION
Persons With Disability includes those who have long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal base with others.
OBJECTIVES
The department support PWDs with the income generating activities of individual persons with disabilities as a means of economic empowerment
To provide educational support for children, students and trainees with disabilities
To build the capacity of PWDs in the Municipal to enable them to advocate and assert their rights and undertake awareness creation and sensitization on disability issues.
To support PWDs have access to technical aids and other assistive devices and equipment.
Disability Fund
What is disability fund?
This is two percent (2%) of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) allocated to Persons with Disability in the Municipality.
For the effective utilization of the fund, a Municipal Fund Management Committee is put in place to oversee the disbursement and utilization of the fund to the PWDs.
Who qualifies to access the disability fund?
- Visually impaired
- Hearing and speech impaired
- Physically challenged
- Multiple Disabled person
How to access the fund?
- Person with disability applies to the Municipal Chief Executive stating all necessary details.
- The applications are referred to the Fund Management Committee.
- The committee meets and sorts the applicants within seven (7) working days.
- Applicants are interviewed or talked to within fourteen (14) working days.
- After satisfaction with the authenticity of applicants as person with disability, the applications are reviewed and approved.
- A report is written by the committee stating the names, type of disability, applicant’s profession, amount requested, the urgency of the applicant’s need, age and sex of applicant.
The reports are submitted to the Municipal Chief Executive and the Internal Audit Unit and upon satisfaction; a P.V. is prepared with the names of approved individual. Beneficiaries are invited to the Assembly by the committee within one month for payment with their identification cards. Balance of unpaid sums are kept with the Assembly for continuous payment to those beneficiaries who could not make it earlier. The Management Committee from time to time checks on the payees.
HIV
INTRODUCTION
HIV is also called human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It causes AIDS and interferes with the body’s ability to fight infections. The virus can be transmitted through contact with infected blood, semen or virginal fluids.
OBJECTIVES
The prevention of HIV transmission and the support of those affected directly and indirectly by HIV.
Working with an individual so that he or she understands the risk and working with the individual to achieve and sustain behavior change. Also individuals, relationship, and family counseling to prevent and reduce physiological morbidity associated with HIV infection and disease.
NHIS
INTRODUCTION
NHIS is a social intervention programme introduce by government to provide financial access to quality health care for residents in Ghana.
OBJECTIVES
Under the department the NHIS falls under the exempt group which includes children or persons under 18 years of age which, indigents, differently able persons, persons with mental disorder and the aged.The Department of social welfare (DSW) is the service delivery department for child protection and family welfare. The Department of social welfare works in partnership with people in their communities to improve their well-being through the promotion of social development with equity for the disadvantaged, the vulnerable, person with disabilities and the excluded.
The department has three broad-based categories of responsibilities:
Child Rights Promotion
Justice Administration and
Community Care
The functions of the Department are to
Develop and coordinate community-based rehabilitation programme for persons with disabilities.
Promote access to social welfare services for the disadvantaged vulnerable excluded groups and individuals.
Facilitate opportunities for NGOs to develop social services in collaboration with the communities
Carry out DSW statutory functions in the field of Children’s Right promotion and protection
Secure minimum standards of operation of Day Care centers through registration, training and regular inspection under Children’s Act (560) of 1998.
Provide homes for the homeless, orphaned and abandoned children, and assisting in finding fit persons and foster parents to care for children whose mothers are seriously ill hospitalized in severe state of depression incarcerated in prisons.
THE DISTRICT SOCIAL WELFARE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The District social welfare and community Development (DSWCD) exists at the MMDA level to work in partnership with individual’s families groups and communities in order to improve social wellbeing. This is done through active participation of all stakeholders in promoting development with equity. DSWCD Departments are staffed with Social welfare Officers (SWOs) and Community Development Officers (CDOs) with specific and in some functions, shared responsibilities in child protection and family welfare.
The core activities of the Department include the following;
PROGRAMMES
- Child Rights Promotion and Protection: Child Maintenance, Custody, Reintegration
- Community Care: Sensitization activities
- Justice administration: Probation services, Prison after care
ACTIVITIES
The department also performs the following activities:
- Maintenance of Children
- Child Custody
- Paternity
- Family reconciliation
- Probation Services
- Prison After care
- Hospital Social work
- Disabilities
- LEAP
HOTLINE: 0593995032