The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office Caraga’s Home For Girls (HFG) has been named the National Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) Best Center for 2019. During the Annual recognition of the best performing offices/individuals at the Department, during the 69th DSWD Anniversary celebration, FO Caraga bested all other Centers and Residential Care Facilities all over the country.

DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista awarded the Home For Girls (HFG) as the PRAISE Best Center for 2019 during the DSWD’s 69th Anniversary Celebration on January 29, 2020 at DSWD Central Office. (Left to right: Undersecretary for Social Welfare and Development Danilo G. Pamonag, Anecita B. Amparo- HFG’s social welfare officer I, DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista, Marissa Garay- HFG Center Head, and Undersecretary for General Administration and Support Services Group Jose Ernesto Gaviola)

The HFG Caraga after thorough assessment and deliberation, has been named Best Center for its innovations, superior accomplishments, extraordinary acts and services that contributed to the efficiency, economy, and improvement in government operations which has led to the Department’s productivity.

The Home for Girls (HFG), located in Barangay Bonbon, Butuan City, is one of the residential care facilities of the DSWD Field Office Caraga that caters to the needs of young girls from seven (7) to eighteen (18) years old who are either sexually, psychologically and/or physically abused by their immediate family members or neighbors. It is also home to victims of child labor, child trafficking, and Children In Conflict with the Law (CICL) that were referred by the local police, local government units, non-government organizations, and victim’s relatives.

HFG Caraga was established on November 18, 1997, and since have provided continuous services through its social workers, resident psychologists, manpower development officers, house parents and resident doctors. The center provides a comprehensive program that addresses self-improvement and rehabilitation needs which includes psychotherapy through formal and non-formal education like arts, music, and spiritual activities for the clients.

The HFG’s program implementation is guided by DSWD’s mandate and Standards on Residential Care Service (SRCS) that are translated in the manual of operation.  The Level 3 accreditation of HFG, which was issued on March 23, 2016, has generated support from the management in compliance to the set standard. Further, it helps transform the mindset of the staff assigned in the center when it comes to program planning and service delivery. To maintain the quality of programs and services provided, the center has consistently complied the SRCS of the Department.

In the first semester of 2019, HFG Caraga has twenty-three (23) staff with different expertise and educational backgrounds. The additional funds through Centers and Residential Care Facility (CRCF) greatly helped in addressing the administrative concerns and need for physical improvement of the entire facility. The continuous administrative support and technical assistance from the field office plays a vital role in the delivery of quality service with compassion.

The facility was able to boost its services with the recent completion of the two-storey dormitory and other building improvements made possible following the approval of the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA) which provides the allocation of 2.3 billion pesos nationwide, of which the Field Office has a share of 61 million pesos.

As to date, an average number of cases served from 2015 up to the current year is fifty-eight (58). Through close coordination with Local Social Welfare and Development Offices (LSWDOs), significant number of children were reintegrated to their respective families and relatives. Others

were arranged through foster care placement in coordination with the Adoption Resource and Referral Unit under the Protective Services Division of DSWD Field Office Caraga. Basic services and specialized interventions were provided after careful assessment by the concerned professional.

 HFG Caraga’s mission is to commit in providing excellent center-based rehabilitative programs and services for exploited and abused female children and their families through periodic evaluation of the center performance and the impact of its services to the targeted clientele group and their families.

HFG Caraga contributed in fulfilling the thrusts and priorities under Organizational Outcome No. 2 of the Department stated as, Rights of the poor and vulnerable sectors promoted and protected  and Foundational Outcome No. 3 stated as, Dynamic organization with a culture of innovation, integrity and excellence exhibited.

 To date, the HFG Caraga has effectively implemented its function and has contributed to the excellent performance of the Field Office in terms of delivering the Organizational Outcome of DSWD. With the award, the Field Office, most specifically the HFG staff are more than eager to continue delivering quality service to the vulnerable clients it serves. ###

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