GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NIGHT CARE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN OF WORKING MOTHERS ON NIGHT SHIFT

I. RATIONALE

The last two decades witnessed a tremendous rise in the number of
women joining the labor force. Between 1973 and 1994, the number of
women joining the labor force more than doubled from 4.8 million in 1973
to 10.1 million in 1994.

The promotion of Export Processing Zones as a strategy for national
industrialization and the booming local industries has created new job
opportunities for more women. Though generally considered a positive
development for increasing the availability of jobs, these
establishments are also known to impose high production quotas on their
women workers requiring them therefore to work uninterruptedly for long
hours including at night.

The schedule of work does not only prove hazardous for women going
home late at night but also to their children. Recent study on
intrafamilial violence conducted by UP Center for Women Studies and the
DSWD revealed that most child abuses take place at home while the
parents particularly the mothers are at work. One in every 4 victim of
child abuse are not even old enough to be in school. More specifically
younger children are more susceptible to physical abuse and neglect
especially when there are no responsible adults to take care of them.
This underscores the need for supervised child care for young children
of mothers working on night shifts.

II. LEGAL BASIS

•           1987 Philippine Constitution recognizes the role of
women in nation building and shall ensure the fundamental equality
before the law of men and women.

•           EO 123 mandates the Department of Social Welfare and
Development to promote women’s welfare with specific attention to the
prevention or creation of exploitation in any form including and illegal
recruitment as well as the promotion of skills for employment and
self-actualization.

•           RA 7192 otherwise known as “Women in Development and
Nation Building Act” ensures the fundamental equality of women and men.

•           RA 5490 authorized the building of more free zones where women’s labor power could be harnessed.

•           The Labor Code of the Philippines requires the employers
of industries to establish a nursery in the workplace for the benefit
of the women employees/workers therein.

III. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

General Objective – To provide supervised
care to children of working mothers especially those working at
nighttime to protect them from abuse and neglect.

Specific Objectives

1.         To provide women opportunities to accept jobs even on
night shifts without sacrificing their role as mothers thus, enabling
them to concentrate on their work and become more productive;

2.         To ensure the safety of young children, ages 3 months to 6
years, of working mothers who are out for work at night time;

3.         To provide opportunities for children of working mothers
on night shifts to promote their physical/mental or cognitive, spiritual
and emotional development.

4.         To provide temporary shelter to mothers working on night
shift where they can stay after their work until safe enough to go back
to their families.

IV. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The project is a preventive measure in the elimination of occurrence
of violence against women and young children. It provides childcare
mechanism where mothers working on a night shift could safely leave
their children especially the young/helpless children. In addition, this
support mechanism will be a “haven” where they can stay the rest of the
night until it is safe enough for them and their young children to go
back to their families.

The Night Care Center shall be established near the vicinity of the
establishment where the mothers work. For the pilot phase, the center
shall be set up in two regions where prevalence of working mothers on
night shift is high. For continued implementation of the project, more
centers shall be. established within or near the Export Processing Zones
in the country where there is a high percentage of women participation
in the labor force without caregivers for their young children.

V. PROJECT COMPONENTS

1.         Social Preparation — Setting up of night care
facility and identification of beneficiaries shall be included in the
social preparation aspect. Coordination with the establishments or the
employers shall also be facilitated to ensure better partnership with
them in the implementation of the project. The prospective beneficiaries
shall be identified from the DSWD survey results or from the masterlist
of the local Social Welfare and Development office if there is any.
Consultation with the prospective mother beneficiaries shall be
conducted to get their inputs and other concerns in the effective
project implementation.

2.         Training of Night Care Givers — The training of
night care givers and social workers shall be conducted to equip them of
the appropriate knowledge, attitudes and skills in handling children at
the center. Likewise, the MSWDO/social workers in the area should be
oriented on the project and its operation.

3          Case Management

a.      Child Care Services — The services to be provided for young children shall compose of the following activities:

•           Play Session — Play session provides time for
indoor and outdoor play. Play offers opportunities for learning which
allows the children to use their physical energy, stimulates
intellectual/cognitive growth and offers opportunities for the
development of social values. It also satisfies their need to be active,
to explore, to investigate and be adventurous.

•           Feeding — This involves the provision of food
and non-food assistance to children while at the center at the rate. of
P/25.00 per day per child. Food support will be provided while the
mothers do not have the money yet to provide for such. Feeding
activities will help the children develop proper eating habits and
maintain and improve nutritional status.

•           Wash-up/Bath — Washing-up/bathing will help
to develop establish behavior patterns that develop personal values or
proper hygiene/health habits.

•           Bedtime Stories — Before sleeping time, the
children will be provided with bedtime stories to entertain them,
inculcate social values and develop appreciation for literature. It can
also be used to develop their language skills and learn sequencing of
ideas while at the same time increasing their vocabulary and broadening
their experiences.

b.      Support Services — A package of social welfare
support services will be rendered to the center’s clientele whenever
necessary through proper accessing to the services of the local Social
Welfare and Development office and other agencies. It shall be the
responsibility of the night care giver to refer the clients to the
Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer/municipal social worker
for other needs which are not provided by the Center.

3.         Monitoring, Evaluation and Documentation — This
shall include the conduct of regular project monitoring to ensure
effective and efficient project management. Evaluation of the project
shall also be conducted after the pilot phase to determine effectiveness
of the strategy.

VI. GENERAL POLICIES

1.         Eligibility Requirements

1.1.          Children

a.)   children of working mothers
b.)   3 months to 6 years old
c.)   have no responsible adults to take care of while the mothers are at work
d.)   have undergone physical/medical examination before admission
to the center whether or not they are physically able to participate in
the center’s activities and is free of communicable disease. If ill,
the child must be referred for treatment

1.2.          Night Care Givers

a.)   shall posses the needed educational qualification, i.e, a
graduate of BS Social Work BS Nursing, Child Psychology or any
Behavioral Science Courses
b.)   have had experiences in working with children and women
c.)   physically, mentally and emotionally healthy

1.3.          Night Care Center

a.)     Physical

•           The Night Care Center shall have a floor area of at
least 15″ x 18″ meters to provide enough space for the activities and
rest/sleeping area for the children.

•           There should be available potable water supply,
proper ventilation, fire fighting equipment, first aid cabinet, toilet
and washing area, nursery for infants and toddlers.

•           The center must exude a homey atmosphere and have
pastel painted walls, child oriented pictures, and paintings, matching
curtains, flower, boxes etc. and should be placed where the children can
be comfortable and have fun.

•           There should be a locker or similar covered space
for each child where they can put personal belongings or things they use
while in the center.

•           Availability of space for eating and the appropriate
eating paraphernalia for the children. There should be at least one set
of eating paraphernalia for each child.

•           The safety of the child must be ensured in the
center, hence, appropriate chairs, tables, beds should be made available
for them.

b.)     Program

•           Appropriate program materials for children’s
activities should also be made available in the center. A minimum of the
required program materials shall be kept in the center for the
children’s use.

•           Availability of manipulative materials for
structured play that will develop the children’s fine and large motor
skills, symbols/materials that will inculcate proper values of the
children both for love of God and country, and other materials that will
develop the children’s appreciation for arts and music.

•           Availability of enough storybooks and visual aids for storytelling

•           The importance and value of nutrition and health
care should be integrated in the activities for the children. The social
value of food should be taught or demonstrated for the children to
acquire good eating habits. There should also be a conduct of monthly
weighing to monitor health and status of children availing the night
care services.

•           The night care session shall be provided for a
minimum of 3-4 hours before sleeping time. The session shall include
activities such as indoor free play, clean-up, feeding, wash-up/bath and
bedtime stories.

1.3.      Support Assistance

•           The center shall also make available other services
for the children. The Night Care Giver shall coordinate with health
personnel for possible immunization and deworming of children. The
children shall also undergo physical/medical examination before
admission to the center whether or not they are physically able to
participate in the center’s activities and is free from communicable
diseases. If ill, the child must be referred for treatment.

•           Food and non-food assistance shall be provided at
P/25.00 per day per child in case the mother does not have yet the money
to buy for the needs of the child. However, these items should be
replaced by them.

1.4.      Working mothers who are living far from their houses may
avail of the center for their temporary stay. For instance, mother who
are out for work at 10:00 p.m. or 2:00 a.m. shifts may avail for a short
stay at the center until it is safe enough for her and the children to
go back home to their families.

1.5.      The services of the center shall not be limited to one
child per mother. The center can accommodate more than 2 to 3 children
per family provided they meet the eligibility requirement.

2.         The center shall accommodate at least 30 children at any
given time and shall be manned by one Social Welfare Officer II and
Night Care Giver to look after the children.

3.         Parents shall be organized into Parents Committee as a support group to the Center.

4.         The LGUs/NGOs and the management of the
establishments/factories shall be properly coordinated in the
implementation of the project. The establishments/factories shall
provide the Night Care Center to ensure accessibility to the working
mothers which will enable them to concentrate on their work thus, ensure
maximum production.

5.         After the pilot implementation, the night care facility
shall be turned over to the host LGUs for continued project
implementation/institutionalization.

VII. IMPLEMENTING DETAILS

1.         Social Preparation

1.1.      Situational Analysis – Survey of the
industries/establishments particularly in Export Processing Zones shall
be first conducted to determine the need for the Night Care facility and
to establish the profile of the working mothers. There shall also be
conduct of information and education campaign for both the working
mothers, the employers and the LGUs to have an awareness and
understanding of the problem of child abuse and neglect to ensure their
participation to the project implementation.

1.2.      Identification of Beneficiaries – The result of
the survey conducted shall determine the number and profile of the
eligible beneficiaries to avail of the Night Care Center. The existing
data based from the DSWD survey results shall be validated by the
Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer in the target area to
update the masterlist of beneficiaries. The MSWDO shall initiate
contact/social preparation of the working mothers for them to avail of
the night care service. The employers will also assist in the
validation/updating masterlist of prospective beneficiaries.

1.3.      Setting up of Night Care Facility – The
factories/industries shall identify the facility which will serve as the
Night Care Center. If not available, the Local Government Units shall
provide for the facility. The Center must meet the minimum requirement
to provide child care services to the target beneficiaries and shall be
equipped with appropriate facilities/equipments

2.         Training of Night Care Givers = The
night care givers shall be equipped with knowledge, skills and
appropriate attitudes in the management of the Center. The MSWDO shall
be trained and oriented on the operationalization of the project
particularly on the conduct of social preparation to the community. The
capability building activities shall be in coordination with the Human
Resource and Development Bureau.

3.         Case Management

3.1    Provision of Child Care Services – While at the
Center, the children shall be provided with a package of child care
services not only for temporary care but also to provide opportunities
for children’s total development. Mothers who are out for work can be
assured that their children are well taken cared of.

3.2.   Access to Support Services –    Medical and other
services needed by the clients shall be made available for the children.
It is the primary responsibility of the Night Care Giver to network
with appropriate agencies (e.g., health centers, MSWDO, DECS, etc.) for
possible support services needed

4          Temporary Shelter to Working Mothers –
After their work, the mothers can also avail of the facility as their
temporary shelter particularly to those who are living far from their
residence. The center serves as a haven for both mother and child until
it is safe enough to go home to their families.

5.         Monitoring, Evaluation and Documentation –

•        The Night Care Giver shall document the progress of the
project implementation through the submission of monthly status report
of the center’s operation indicating among others, other interventions
extended (e.g., referral services, coordination with other agencies,
etc.) A quarterly evaluation shall be conducted to determine gaps and
strengths of the project implementation.

•        The DSWD Field Office shall conduct monitoring to
determine effectiveness of the strategy at the identified pilot night
care centers.

•        The Programs and Special Projects Bureau shall also visit
the pilot centers to validate reports submitted to the Field Offices
and to provide technical assistance in the implementation whenever
necessary. Quarterly status report of implementation shall be submitted
to the Secretary and a terminal evaluation report after the pilot phase.

VIII. OUTPUT/IMPACT INDICATORS

Output Indicators

•           No. of children of working mothers who have availed of the night care facility
•           No. of women workers on night shift who availed of the center as a temporary shelter of their pre-school children
•           No. of children/mothers or their families referred to the local SWD office for other support services

Impact Indicators

•           Increased productivity of working mothers on night shifts
•           Decreased cases of any kind of child neglect
•           Decreased cases of abuses/accidents at night involving working mothers

IX. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

The project shall be operationalized with the involvement of the following units:

1.         Department of Social Welfare and Development

1.1.          Programs and Special Projects Bureau

•        Develops guidelines in the implementation of the project
•        Conducts capability building/training of social workers/care
givers involved in the project in coordination with the Human Resource
and Development Bureau
•        Provides technical assistance to SWA, social workers, care givers on project implementation
•        Allocates and releases funds needed in the operationalization of the project
•        Coordinates/initiates networking with NGOs, GOs, POs, for possible replication/institutionalization of the project
•        Conducts monitoring, evaluation and documentation of the pilot testing

1.2.          Field Office

•        Identifies and validates target areas/clients and assists the Bureau in the conduct of pilot testing
•        Provides direct supervision and technical assistance to care givers implementing the project
•        Conducts regular monitoring and assessment of the project and submit quarterly report to PSPB
•        Coordinates with LGUs/NGOs, GOs, POs for other support services/resources, e.g., medical services, etc.

2.         Local Government Units

•   Identifies/recruits working mothers/clients who wish to avail of the night care facility
•   Provides other support services/logistics needed in the center
•   Identifies and provides a night care center for the children in case the industries cannot provide for such

3.         Industries

•        Identifies and provide a night care facility within the
vicinity of the establishment in coordination with the Local Government
Units
•        Assists the LGU and the DSWD in the conduct of information and
dissemination campaign/social preparation to the working mothers
•        Provides for other logistic support that may be needed in the center
•        Conducts regular inventory of working mothers who can avail of the night care center

4.         Night Care Givers

•        Oversees the overall management of the center
•        Conducts regular sessions with the children
•        Observes and records the performance of each child in the center
•        Provides necessary support social welfare interventions to the target clients
•        Observes the children for any signs of abuse, disability or
disease and refer accordingly to appropriate units/authorities concerned

•        Organizes Parents Committee as a support group to the center
•        Supervises children during snack time, and teaches/encourages
or maintains good health habits and proper nutritional values among
children
•        Facilitates deworming and immunization of children in coordination with the Health personnel
•        Supervises night care aides volunteers and other center staff
•        Coordinates with the local social worker/MSWDO and other agencies for other support services
•        Prepares monthly report of the center operation
•        Prepares and submit budget proposals to the FOs

5.         Night Care Aide

•        Responsible in the care of infant and toddlers
•        Assists in the conduct of regular session with the children
•        Assists in the conduct of monthly weighing of children
•        Assists in the preparation of program materials for children’s use
•        Assists in monitoring growth and development of the children
•        Keep the center comfortable, safe, orderly and clean for the children
•        Assists the Night Care Giver in the organization of Parents
Committee and in the identification of activities for the parents

This Department Order shall take effect immediately.

For strict compliance.

Adopted: 18 Mar. 1998

(SGD.) LINA B. LAIGO
Secretary