PATCH Child Abuse Centre

PATCH Child Abuse Centre specializes in the Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse in the Helderberg Area of the Western Cape in South Africa. PATCH has six offices where assessments and therapy is offered to child victims of sexual abuse. This is done by qualified social workers and counsellors who reside in the community. PATCH also has a 24-hour crisis centre at their premises where qualified PATCH crisis workers offer emotional support during the medico-legal examination, while the doctor collects forensic evidence for the court case in cases of rape. PATCH also conducts essential Awareness and Prevention programmes at schools and crèches in the area. The focus of these programmes is to encourage children to come forward and report any incidents of sexual abuse.