Child Guidance Centre

Leading the way in Diagnosis, Counseling & Parent Education and Training in Child and Adolescent Counseling

The Child Guidance Centre (CGC) in Delhi, operating under the Savitribai Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development (SPNIWCD), has been serving the community for over three decades. It offers diagnostic, counseling, therapeutic, and referral services for children experiencing learning, behavior, and developmental issues. Established in 1980, the CGC operates within the broader framework of the SPNIWCD, which is dedicated to promoting research, training, and documentation in women and child development.

The CGC employs a multidisciplinary approach to address the bio-psycho-socio-cultural variables contributing to children's problems. It operates within the Ministry of Women and Child Development and collaborates with various institutions, including academic institutions, schools of social work, and hospitals' psychiatric or pediatric units.

In addition to providing direct services to children and families, the CGC is involved in research and training initiatives related to children's emotional well-being. It conducts training programs for school personnel, childcare institution staff, and non-governmental organization workers in the field of child mental health and guidance counseling. Furthermore, it offers professional development courses, such as the Advanced Diploma Course in Child Guidance and Counseling, affiliated with GGSIP University Delhi and recognized by the Rehabilitation Council of India. Through its comprehensive approach, the CGC plays a crucial role in addressing the psycho-social and developmental needs of children in the community.

Mission: Restoring and strengthening the emotional wellbeing of children and families.

Beyond the families best effort to give their child an accomplishing and joyous life, the journey of all children do not follow an expected pathway. Some children experience sadness, guilt, worthlessness, fear or respond to others in anger, may harm themselves or others and the like. Some children may be limited in their attention concentration, ability to stay focused, ability to learn academics, social skills, and peer relationships. Yet all children deserve opportunities to dream for their lives, experience happy lives and reach their fullest potential.

Objectives:

• To study the nature, manifestation and interplay of the child's problem on the child and the family through multi-modal assessment.
• To collaboratively arrive at a diagnostic workup through joint efforts of the child, family and the multidisciplinary team.
• To identify environmental conditions, modifications and interventions that will facilitate optimal functioning of the child.
• To empower parents in restoring and strengthening the emotional well-being of the child and the family.

Services:

• Child Guidance Center offers families comprehensive diagnostic assessments by a qualified team of Child development professionals, Child counsellors, Psychiatrists, Psychologists and Speech therapists. It offers specialized screening and diagnosis of children suspected of, at risk of or showing learning, behaviour, attention, and developmental difficulties.
• Assessment Services of the Center are available to families with Young Children up to the age of 12 years.
• Parents who are concerned about their child's learning, emotional and behavioural difficulties can contact the Centre for assessment and guidance.

Child Care Centre

SPNIWCD runs a Child Care Centre (CCC) at its campus since its inception in 1981. CCC caters to children 3-4 years of age residing in neighboring localities like Shahpur Jat Village, Hauz Khas Police Colony and Staff Quarters at SPNIWCD campus. It is being run along the ECDCE Curriculum framework approved by Ministry of Women and Child Development. A trained teacher and a Helper with active participation of the community runs the programme following the content and methodology laid out by the National curriculum framework.  Thus, the Centre follows play-way and activity based approach to provide developmental stimulation care and learning. 

To provide a variety of experiences to children, the Centre undertakes activities like free and structured conversation, rhymes, songs, story-telling, story making, music and movement, dramatization, indoor play activities with blocks, beads, puzzles, etc., make believe play, clay modelling, outdoor games and  outdoor activities including free play  running, jumping, hopping, balancing, sand play, water play, gardening, nature walk, etc. 

Annually the Child Care Centre enrolls 30 children in the age group of 3-4 years from the neighboring localities.  The academic session starts from April every year. The center is run for three hours every day from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Every year, the Centre celebrates all Festivals, Universal Children's Day, Independence Day, Republic Day and birthdays of children attending CCC.   The Centre is jointly run with active participation of the community particularly mothers of the children attending Child Care Centres. Regular Mothers Meetings are organized at the CCC on themes relating to care, protection of children from diseases and malnutrition, developmental stimulation and monitoring their growth and development.  Parents are encouraged to practice the same at home.  Regular Parent Workshops are held for exchange of information and addressing developmental concerns of children.  Accordingly, follow up action is taken in the activities of the Centre as also in the sequential mother’s Meetings.

A fee of Rs.500/- is charged monthly from the families along with one time Registration Fees of Rs.100/-   50% concession of fee is given to families with the total income less than Rs.7000/- and the fees is waived off families less than Rs.5000/- as their total income. 

ADOLESCENT GUIDANCE SERVICE CENTRE

Working Towards Providing Comprehensive Mental Health Services for the Development of Competent and Resilient Adolescents

Adolescence is a crucial period for personal and socio-cultural development, often marked by identity formation and experimentation. The Adolescent Guidance Service Centre (AGSC), established in 2001, aims to support adolescents in navigating this phase. AGSC provides counseling and psycho-social care through a comprehensive program, employing a dual strategy. Professionals conduct preventive activities in communities and schools, while also offering evidence-based diagnostic assessments at the center. This holistic approach addresses developmental challenges and promotes resilience among adolescents, fostering healthy psychosocial development.

Mission:

Provide comprehensive mental health services for the development of competent and resilient adolescents.

Policy:

The Centre provides assessment and intervention services to adolescents (12-18 years of age) and families on a first come first serve basis. The services are available to all genders and social classes. Comprehensive services along evidence-based parameters are provided by a multi-disciplinary team.

Objectives:

• To conduct contextual promotive/ preventive activities for development of life skills, family life education and career planning with adolescents and the stakeholders.
• To identify and assess mental health issues in adolescents through a multidisciplinary team.
• To provide comprehensive diagnostic assessment, counseling, and psychosocial support to adolescents and their families.

Approach:

• To ensure accessibility of services and avoid the stigma attached to access services, AGSC adopts a two-fold strategy towards the delivery of counselling & psychosocial interventions for adolescents.
• It develops need-based promotive/ preventive programmes in collaboration with the key stakeholders in schools and settings that are accessible to adolescents.
• It has a 'walk-in' counseling and Guidance service for adolescents at its 'Adolescent Guidance Service Centre' at the Institute.

Services:

Adolescent Guidance Service Centre offers to young adults falling within the age range of 12 to 19 years comprehensive diagnostic and counseling services by a qualified team of professionals, comprising counselors, clinical psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists. The adolescents who have specific difficulties in learning and behaviour or who have mental health problems like anxiety, depression, examination stress etc. can approach the Centre for assessment and counselling.