Family - an entry point to service delivery

Public services are never delivered exclusively to an individual. For example, though a child goes to school to receive formal education, the clothes, food, equipment and accessories most probably come from the home. A family is the unseen component accompanying a child to school. Besides which it is the home to which the child returns after school hours.

An older person might receive a SASSA grant; however there is almost always a relationship with a home and a family. A prisoner hopefully has a spouse, parents and siblings during and after incarceration. The unemployed adult who receives UIF might be faced with broad financial and parental responsibilities.

The service delivery system therefor if efficient and effective must consciously measure achievement beyond the individual beneficiary. While the child, older person, inmate or unemployed adult might receive short term help; it is the long term, multiple sources of support to a household or family that will reap success.