“Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan (The youth is the hope of the motherland),” our national hero, Jose Rizal, wrote. Likewise, a popular song describes children as “our future.” Indeed, the health, rights, and well-being of children should be the utmost priority of any household, community — or the entire country, for that matter.
But what about children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned? Who will take care of them? For these kids, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has created the Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC). In this article, we will discuss the RSCC — its objectives, target beneficiaries, programs and services, and other matters.
Image Credit: Reception and Study Center for Children – DSWD X / Facebook
What is the RSCC?
The Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) is a residential facility that offers social work interventions to children 0-6 years old. The 24-hour facility provides services to children who have been abused, exploited, neglected, and/or abandoned. It also cares for children “at risk” and those who need alternative family care.
At present, there is a RSCC in DSWD’s Quezon City office. There are also similar facilities in several regional offices, including the DSWD offices in Bicol, Cebu City, and Cagayan de Oro City.
Objectives of the RSCC
Generally, the RSCC aims to provide care and protection to neglected, dependent and abandoned children 0-6 years old. These include victims of abuse and exploitation, along with children who have special needs.
Specifically, the center aims to achieve the following:
- Identify and provide the best substitute parental care for a child;
- Serve as a laboratory for study and development of child care services;
- Promote a venue for the training of service providers, such as social workers, house parents, volunteers, and students who are engaged or would be engaged in child welfare and development; and
- Promote a model center for the care, protection, rehabilitation, education, and training of children with special needs.
Target Beneficiaries
As mentioned earlier, the RSCC serves children age 0 to 6 years old. These children belong to the following categories:
1. Dependent Children
This refers to children whose parents are temporarily incapacitated, and there are no known relatives who could take care of them. Their parents incapacity to care for them may be due to the following reasons:
- Parent(s) lack the financial means to support their children;
- Parent(s) is currently in prison;
- Parent(s) is in hospital or incapacitated due to sickness; or
- Parent(s) has to attend to an urgent family concern and will be away temporarily.
2. Abandoned/Neglected Children
This refers to children who have been left by their parents to private individuals, or to institutions like clinics and hospitals.
3. Foundling
This refers to children who have been left alone in the streets, or other public or private places.
4. Physically Abused
This refers to children who have experienced maltreatment, battering, and verbal assault — be it from their own parents, guardians, neighbors, or other individuals.
5. Sexually Abused
This refers to children who have been forced to engage in sexual conduct or intercourse. It includes children who have been molested and those who have been forced into prostitution.
6. Voluntarily Committed/Surrendered
This refers to children who have been voluntarily surrendered by their parents due to various reasons (e.g. lack of financial means, born out of wedlock, result of rape, etc.)
7. Transnational
This refers to children who were born out of a relationship between Filipinos and foreign nationals — but have been abandoned, neglected, abused, or surrendered.
8. Orphaned Children
This refers to children who do not have any family members or relatives who can assume responsibility for their care.
Image Credit: Reception and Study Center For Children FO VII / Facebook
Required Documents
If you know about any child or children who needs to be admitted into a RSCC, here are the documents that must be prepared:
- Referral Letter;
- Birth Certificate (if available);
- Social Case Study or Case Summary;
- Medical Abstract or Certificate;
- Parents’ death records (for orphans);
- Medico Legal (if physically or sexually abused); and
- Police Blotter and Affidavit of Finder or Reffering Party (if abandoned or foundling).
Upon submitting the documents to the local DSWD office, a social worker will review the case study and other papers. Then, it will be decided whether or not the child(ren) will be admitted to the RSCC.
Programs and Services
The RSCC provides different programs and services, including:
1. Foster Care Services
This is a process where a child is placed under the temporary care of a licensed foster family if his/her parents are unable to care for him/her.
2. Adoption
This refers to a process where a child who has been abandoned or voluntarily surrendered is placed into a permanent home or family.
3. Legal Guardianship
This is a process where a person is appointed guardian until this child reaches the age of majority.
4. Homelife Services
This is a process that aims to foster a good environment, so that the child may experience family living.
5. Health Services
This refers to the provision of preventive and curative interventions to promote the health of a child. Services include physical examinations, vaccinations, deworming, vitamin supplementation, dental services, etc.
6. Educational Services
This refers to the provision of educational opportunities to the child. It includes formal and non-formal education, remedial classes, and other related services.
7. Psychological Services
This refers to the conduct of psychological assessment and interventions, especially for children who have experienced physical or sexual abuse.
Video: RSCC of DSWD Region 3
Check out this video about the RSCC in Region 3, as shared by DSWD Field Office 3 – Central Luzon on Facebook:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Meanwhile, let us address some frequently asked questions about the RSCC:
1. What is the RSCC?
The Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) is a 24-hour residential facility that provides social work interventions to children who have been abused, neglected, and/or abandoned.
2. What is the main objective of the RSCC?
The main objective of the RSCC is to provide care and protection to children who have been abused, neglected and/or abandoned.
3. Who are the target beneficiaries?
The RSCC serves children 0-6 years old who are: dependent, abandoned/neglected, foundling, physically abused, sexually abused, voluntarily committed/surrendered, transnational, and/or orphaned.
4. What are the programs and services offered?
The RSCC provides foster care, adoption, legal guardianship, homelife services, health services, educational services, and psychological services.
5. How can I learn more about the RSCC?
You can learn more about the RSCC by going to the nearest DSWD office.
Contact Information: DSWD Central Office
For those who are based in the National Capital Region (NCR) who would like to know more about the RSCC, you can get in touch with the DSWD Central office through the following details:
Address: Batasang Pambansa Complex, Constitution Hills, Quezon City, Philippines, 1126
Telephone: (02) 8931 8101 to 07
Website: https://www.dswd.gov.ph/
Google Map:
Final Thoughts
For children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned, the DSWD offers the RSCC — a place where they can feel safe and have their basic needs met. There are currently several RSCC facilities located in different parts of the Philippines.
Other than children, the DSWD also provides various programs and services for women. In fact, the department is now celebrating National Women’s Month; visit this link to know more about it!