Christian Social Council Lotus Gardens

The Three Programmes

Family Preservation is CMR North's primary prevention strategy — the work done to keep children in their families rather than remove them. Services include individual counselling and therapy, family and couple therapy, group work, parenting programmes, life skills training, mediation, and the sustained relationship between a social worker and a family over time. Prevention is always preferable to crisis.

Child Protection is the statutory backbone of CMR North's work. As a designated child protection organisation under the Children's Act, CMR North has the formal authority to investigate child abuse reports, conduct psychosocial assessments, remove children to places of safety, and initiate Children's Court proceedings. For GBV survivors with children at risk — from physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, or exposure to domestic violence — CMR North's social workers are the professionals with the legal mandate and the professional training to intervene. Each of the 15 Centres of Hope renders family preservation and child protection services to defined geographic areas; the Child Protection Centre of Hope in Queenswood handles all Gauteng statutory proceedings.

Poverty Alleviation and Community Upliftment recognises that poverty and child vulnerability are inseparable. Across all 15 centres, CMR North runs food parcel programmes, clothing projects, school stationery support, holiday programmes, and income-generating projects (including the Daspoort women's needlework group and the Brits "Style 4 you" tailoring project), addressing the material conditions that make families vulnerable.

Child Therapy Centre (Queenswood)

CMR North's specialist child therapy and assessment unit at Queenswood is the flagship of its therapeutic work. Two purpose-built therapy rooms, equipped with one-way mirrors and built-in cameras, allow child assessments and therapy sessions to be conducted in a child-appropriate setting while producing court-admissible evidence. This facility provides:

• Trauma therapy and play therapy for abused and neglected children
• Psychosocial assessments of children and families (three-hour sessions), including interactional analyses, adult evaluations, and collateral investigations
• Foster care recruitment, screening, placement, and supervision — CMR North is always in need of foster families
• Foster parent training and support — including a practical Afrikaans foster care handbook (available for purchase from the Queenswood office)
• Adoption services — disclosed adoption, step-parent adoption, adoption from foster care; the process and costs differ by type; contact kinders@cmrn.co.za for information
• Child Court proceedings and report writing to the Court (monthly progress reports per child per case)

For therapy appointments at Queenswood: Yolanda Turvey — 012 333 0421 / yolanda@cmrn.co.za. For foster care: Minka Vervat, Senior Social Worker — 012 333 0421 / kinders2@cmrn.co.za.

Geographic Coverage

CMR North's 15 Centres of Hope serve a wide corridor:

Gauteng: Queenswood, Daspoort/Pretoria-West (Mountain View, Suiderberg, Roseville, Parktown, Mayville, Elandspoort, Eloffsdal), Derdepoort/East Lynne, Lotus Gardens/Atteridgeville, Lynnwood, Moot/Villieria (Jakaranda, Rietfontein, Riviera, Wonderboom South), VOS/Sunnyside (homeless services), Wierdapark/Centurion (Bronberrick, Celtisdal, Clubview, Eldoraigne, Hennopspark, Raslouw), Wonderboom (Annlin, Magalieskruin, Montana, Overkruin, Sinoville, Doornpoort).

North West: Brits (Brits Magisterial District, farming communities, Mooinooi), Hartbeespoort/Schoemansville.

Limpopo: Louis Trichardt, Musina, Bela-Bela (including Spa Park, Jinnah Park, Radium, Pienaarsrivier, Lehau, Rust de Winter, Settlers, Tuinplaas, Mabula).

Relevance to GBV Survivors

For GBV survivors whose children are at risk, CMR North is a critical resource. Any person who suspects a child is being abused, neglected, or is in danger can contact the nearest CMR North Centre of Hope. Social workers will conduct a risk assessment and, where necessary, initiate the statutory processes to protect the child. CMR North also provides individual counselling for adults affected by family violence. For the nearest centre: cmrn.co.za/centres-of-hope or call head office: 012 460 9272.

CMR North: cmrn.co.za. Head office: 012 460 9272 / cmr@cmrn.co.za. 5 Briscoe Avenue, Queenswood, Pretoria. NPO 015-917. 15 Centres of Hope across Gauteng, North West, and Limpopo. Founded 1936. Specialised child therapy and assessment unit; child protection; family preservation; foster care; adoption. Facebook/Instagram: cmrnoord.