We work with vulnerable families whose pre-school children have no access to early childhood services primarily due to social exclusion. Our programme is demand-lead, meaning that only families who self-select to participate and meet the socio-economic criteria for entry into our programme. Qualifying families are registered in the programme for between 2 and 5 years after an extension recruitment and assessment process.

We support our registered families through weekly group work and weekly home visits focused on child stimulation, education, nutritional support, and psycho-social support.

The home visitors undertakes 60-90 minute weekly home-visit during the public school term to each of their 9-18 families. The home-visits include:

• Role-playing an educational programme in weekly segments with the parent or primary caregiver, who role-plays daily activities with the child;
• Supporting the family with general social support and advice; and,
• Providing referral opportunities for issues which need specialised attention.

All the families registered in the programme attend weekly parent support groups that has three components:

• A 90-minute therapeutic support group;
• A 90-minute skills component generally oriented to child development and/or family sustainability
• The weekly group is rounded off with an informal social to share, interact and build the local parenting community.

We also provide  training, and debriefing; community awareness and activism for the HippySA families registered in our programme.