THE NATIONAL FAMILIES MATTER PROGRAMME IS UNDER REVIEW

By Sello Tang

• The Social Development HIV Prevention Directorate, in collaboration with the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), is revising the Families Matter Programme (FMP) to improve parent-child communication and align it with the latest National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB, and STIs (2023-2028), as well as the DSD’s White Paper on Families.
• The programme will be rebranded as “Family’s Matter,” reflecting the unique challenges each family faces, such as HIV, substance abuse, and gender-based violence. This rebranding includes updating the programme’s name and logo to better address the evolving social ills affecting families today.
• The FMP is part of a broader Compendium of Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) programmes, with an allocation of R124 million for implementation across all nine provinces. The ongoing review and rebranding process will continue until 5th September 2024, ensuring the programme remains relevant and impactful.

The Social Development HIV Prevention Directorate, in partnership with the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), is currently engaged in discussions to review the Families Matter Programme (FMP), drawing on lessons learned from previous implementation efforts in communities. This review aims to strengthen the programme’s modules on communication between parents or caregivers and teenage children, aligning it with the new National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB, and STIs (2023-2028) and the Department of Social Development’s (DSD) White Paper on Families.

“The review process also includes rebranding the programme from ‘Families Matter’ to ‘Family’s Matter,’ highlighting the various issues each family uniquely faces,” said Dr Luzile Nziyane, Director of the HIV Prevention Directorate. Dr Nziyane emphasised that issues such as HIV, incest, alcohol and substance abuse, and gender-based violence have evolved, and these changes must be reflected in the updated Family’s Matter Programme.

The revised FMP will address the holistic social challenges that uniquely impact families. In addition to rebranding the name, the review includes updating the programme’s logo to reflect its renewed focus.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the International Year of the Family, underscoring the importance of family as the most vital unit in society, providing protection, nurturing, and education to its members. However, challenges such as HIV and AIDS threaten the family’s social functioning and its ability to protect its children. The HIV Prevention Directorate has developed a Compendium of Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) programmes to address risky sexual behaviours and prevent new HIV infections.

The Families Matter Programme is one of the key initiatives within this Compendium, implemented by the DSD to target parents and caregivers. The programme promotes healthy communication between parents and children regarding risky sexual behaviours, which can perpetuate new HIV infections. The FMP is an evidence-based, parent-focused intervention designed to encourage positive parenting and effective parent-child communication about difficult issues, including sexuality and sexual risk reduction.

The programme is currently implemented across all provinces through earmarked funding, with an allocation of R124 million for the entire SBC Programme in the current financial year. The engagement on the review process is scheduled to continue until 5th September 2024, ensuring that the Family’s Matter Programme remains a vital tool in addressing the complex social challenges faced by families in South Africa.