Draft:THE TEDDY BEAR FOUNDATION

The Teddy Bear Foundation, known as The Teddy Bear Clinic, is a South African non-profit organization established in 1986.. The organization specializes in assisting children and families affected by abuse and has been active for over 35 years

SERVICES
The Teddy Bear Clinic specializes and provides support in five main areas:

MEDICO-LEGAL EXAMINATIONS
The Medico-legal Clinic of the Teddy Bear Foundation serves as both a teaching ground for medical professionals involved in child protection and a specialized medical facility for children who have been abused or neglected. Maintained by a multidisciplinary team of pediatricians, physicians, forensic nurses, social workers, and volunteers, located at the Charlotte Maxexe Academic Hospital.

PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
Specifically designed to give children with cognitive disabilities equitable access to the criminal justice system, the psychological assessment program was founded. . In the context of sexual abuse proceedings, the psychological examination required is determined by the psychological questions given by the court. The psychological evaluations are typically used to ascertain the victims' trauma effect, their mental age as opposed to their chronological age, and their ability to testify about an alleged crime. At the Teddy Bear Foundation, qualified psychologists conduct these exams

THERAPEUTIC COUNSELLING AND SUPPORT
With a focus on lowering stress and relieving the child's anxiety and fear, boosting self-acceptance, and freeing up internal resources to help the child deal with the trauma, the Teddy Bear Foundation aims to give children who has experienced abuse access to therapeutic counselling and support. . Supportive therapy is further offered to caregivers of abused children to better prepare caregivers to cope and provide support with trauma

FORENSIC ASSESSMENTS
Forensic evaluations serve as the foundation for prosecuting individuals who have done harm to children. . These proceedings take the shape of a planned procedure. This procedure is conducted by social workers who interact with the children seeking help at the Teddy Bear Foundation. The objective is to obtain details about the alleged incident from the young victim and then confirm these details with other persons who know the victim along with potential witnesses

COURT PREPARATION AND SUPPORT
In June 1997, the Court Preparation and Support program was founded at the Teddy Bear Foundation. . Its primary goal is to provide children and parents with skills, emotional support, and legal information in preparation for appearing in court. The program is process-oriented since it offers assistance to the children and their families as soon as they enroll, supports them during the sometimes-drawn-out legal process, and then provides a debriefing service

DIVERSION PRORAMME
A diversion program established by the Teddy Bear Foundation attempts to provide low- to medium-risk child sexual offenders the tools they need to modify their behaviour by helping them see the effects of their actions and providing them with the necessary psychological support. . The programme titled Support Programme for Abuse Reactive Children (SPARC) aims to provide early intervention to youth displaying inappropriate or offensive behaviour related to sex. The program actively attempts to interrupt the cycle of abuse by keeping these children from going on to commit sexual offences as adults