Strengthen the Line, "Handayani" Children's Center Extends ATENSI

CIANJUR (August 27, 2020) - The Director General of Social Rehabilitation of the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs, Harry Hikmat attended the Center Officer's Capacity Building activity at the Handayani Children's Center Jakarta in Cianjur, West Java. Also present to accompany the Director General of Social Rehabilitation, Director of Child Social Rehabilitation, Kanya Eka Santi.

In his speech, Harry Hikmat explained the ATENSI (Social Rehabilitation Assistance) program which is a new branding within the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation. ATENSI is an operational strategy that encourages service programs in the Technical Service Unit (UPT) of the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation which handles 5 clusters, namely Children, Persons with Disabilities, Persons with Social Deviance Issues/Trafficking Victims, Elderly, and Drugs.

Especially for children, Harry said that the problems faced were quite complex. “The complexity of children's problems has its own characteristics and is also specific so that it requires different treatment. This is certainly a challenge for us,” explained Harry in front of the participants present.

In 2019, the Directorate of Children handled more than 109,000 children. According to Harry, this figure is less than 5% of the 27.4 million children registered in the Social Welfare Integrated Data (DTKS).

Through ATENSI, Harry is optimistic that the challenges of children's problems can be handled. “We are strengthening the implementation of family, community, and residential-based social rehabilitation. Children's centers do not only dwell in the hall, but intensively provide services to families and communities," he explained.

Furthermore, Harry said the office would cooperate with the Child Welfare Institution (LKSA) in carrying out ATENSI. “LKSA will be the hall agent in ATENSI. For example, if there are cases of children, then we can connect with the nearest LKSA. Therefore, we need to map the distribution of children according to their problem category and the nearest LKSA," continued Harry.

ATENSI will bring about a change in the service paradigm in centers. Social services that were initially sector-based with limited reach will turn into integrated, sustainable, and social services that can reach the entire community.

“Hopefully, the children's center will be multifunctional. So it's not just dealing with children with certain cases. Centers no longer serve long-term care, but have turned into temporary shelters and carry out early intervention based on case management, as well as being a center for family and community services," said Harry.

Harry continued, with this paradigm and function change, of course it must be followed by an increase in the quality of Human Resources. ATENSI demands professional social work practice, so HR must be certified.

ATENSI with family, community, and residential bases is nothing new. Law No. 11 of 2009 on Social Welfare in conjunction with Article 5 Paragraph (1) Government Regulation No. 39 of 2012 on the Implementation of Social Welfare has mandated that social rehabilitation can be carried out in a persuasive, motivational, coercive manner, both within the family, community, and social institutions.

According to Harry, the target of the hall's reach has tripled with the presence of ATENSI because the reach is not only focused on services within the hall. "The subjects of ATENSI are individuals, families, groups/communities/LKS, and human resources, so that many can get services," Harry continued.

In addition to ATENSI, the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation is currently pioneering the SERASI Centerlink (Social Service Center) which will become an integrated service center. SERASI adopted the Australian government's Centerlink, Single Windows Service German, and One Stop Service in several Asian countries. There are 5 centers that are being used as SERASI pilot projects. It is hoped that SERASI will be able to balance ATENSI so that social rehabilitation services can be carried out in a comprehensive, standardized, and professional manner.

At the end of his presentation, Harry invited the Handayani Children's Center employees who were present to continue to improve their skills and develop potential because employees are ATENSI's frontliners who will be the spearhead of quality services. Furthermore, Harry hopes that employees can carry out their duties sincerely, especially in working for children.