South African Parenting Programme Implementers Network

South African Parenting Programme Implementers Network (SAPPIN): Organizational Profile

1. Introduction & Establishment

SAPPIN, the South African Parenting Programme Implementers Network, is a national network of nonprofit organisations (NPOs) that collaborate to support parents and caregivers throughout South Africa. Established in 2017 as an informal collective, SAPPIN was officially registered as a legal entity in October 2023. Its membership has grown to include 24 organizations across the country, representing a diverse range of services, expertise, and geographic reach, all united in the vision of strengthening families by supporting parents.

2. Rationale for Focus on Parenting

SAPPIN exists because of the critical role parents and primary caregivers play in the well-being and development of children. Research across disciplines shows that secure, nurturing, and consistent relationships with at least one primary caregiver are vital to a child's emotional, cognitive, and social development. Parental involvement is also a key factor in preventing violence in homes, reducing school dropout rates, and improving child mental health outcomes. Yet, in the context of South Africa’s complex socio-economic challenges—including poverty, unemployment, violence, and intergenerational trauma—parents often lack the support they need to provide such care.

SAPPIN seeks to fill this gap by promoting systems, programmes, and partnerships that help parents create warm, stable, and non-violent homes. The organization believes that by supporting parents, the broader developmental outcomes for children—and indeed, society—can be significantly improved.

3. Vision

To build a secure future for all who live in South Africa by helping parents create warm and non-violent homes for children.

4. Strategic Goals

SAPPIN's work is grounded in six key principles:

1. Promote warm and non-violent family (caregiver-child) relationships.
2. Foster collaboration and learning among parenting programme implementers and stakeholders.
3. Ensure quality implementation through evidence-based programmes, monitoring and evaluation, reflective supervision, and integrated service delivery.
4. Respect and integrate social, cultural, and religious practices.
5. Uphold ethical and respectful practices that do no harm.
6. Ensure implementers are compliant entities with appropriate safeguarding policies.

These principles underpin the four strategic pillars of the organization:

• Strategic Objective 1: Cohere and strengthen the network of organizations supporting parents.

• Strategic Objective 2: Build a strong, consistent advocacy voice on parenting and parenting work.

• Strategic Objective 3: Create and contribute to an enabling environment for implementation research.

• Cross-cutting Objective: Communicate effectively to build relationships within and beyond the network.

5. Past and Current Activities

Over the past seven years, SAPPIN has engaged in numerous initiatives to build capacity among organizations, promote collaboration, and influence national discourse on parenting. These include:

• Training and support: Providing support on evidence-based parenting programmes, trauma-informed approaches, and reflective supervision.

• SAPPIN Support Circle: A bi-weekly peer support space for implementers to address work-related stress and challenges.

• Indabas: Hosting two “Families Indabas” (2022 and 2023) to bring together practitioners, researchers, and policymakers to reflect on the parenting support landscape in South Africa.

• Advocacy platforms: Active participation in forums such as the Intersectoral Forum on Early Childhood Development, the National and Provincial Violence Prevention Forums, and the Western Cape Family Strengthening Programme.

• Community of Practice Facilitation: Coordinating two dedicated Communities of Practice (CoPs)—

o Family Strengthening CoP for NPOs working with families.

o Fatherhood CoP for organizations, researchers, and partners focused on engaging fathers.

6. Collaborative Programmes

SAPPIN has co-developed and led several innovative projects:

• Free to Grow: A workplace intervention targeting gender-based violence.

• Parentline SA: A WhatsApp-based parenting helpline.

• Creating Calming Classrooms: Supporting teachers in fostering emotionally safe learning environments.

7. Organizational Structure and Capacity

SAPPIN is governed by a Board of Directors and operations are led by a Driver Group composed of two member representatives and the Director. The organization benefits from the wide-ranging expertise of its member organizations, which include psychologists, social workers, trauma counsellors, art therapists, M&E specialists, and NPO managers. This depth and diversity of knowledge allow for peer-to-peer learning and co-creation of impactful interventions.

8. Funding and Partnerships

SAPPIN is currently supported by several key donors and partners, including:

• World Childhood Foundation

• UNICEF

• Two Lillies Fund

• Jim Joel Fund

These partnerships have enabled the network to pursue both grassroots and systemic approaches to parent support, as well as to influence policy and implementation frameworks.

9. Why Invest in Parenting Support Now?

Improving education and developmental outcomes in South Africa requires a multi-sectoral approach, but the role of the family—specifically parents—is often undervalued. By investing in parent support, we can:

• Reduce violence and substance abuse in homes.

• Improve school retention and learning outcomes.

• Enhance mental well-being in both children and adults.

• Break cycles of trauma and poverty.

SAPPIN is uniquely positioned to champion this work due to its credibility, collaborative model, and the rich expertise of its network members.