New director at Meyrick Bennet Centre

BEREA’S Meenaaz Adams, the new director at the Meyrick Bennet Child Guidance Centre in Glenwood is all set and ready to help children with intellectual, behavioural and development challenges.

With 27 years of experience as a social worker, and a Masters in Medical Science Social Work, Adams, brings decades of work with children, people with disabilities, correctional services and family and marital therapy to the Centre.

The Berea resident is happy to work close to home and with her local community after serving FAMSA in Pietermaritzburg. Speaking about her work, Adams said she had always wanted to “make a difference and save the world” when she got into social work. “I still believe that and hold it close to my heart. The philanthropist in me is still alive and so while it is not a high flying or paying career, I am passionate and committed to helping children and families,” she said.

“The social work services that we offer are key to assisting families. Having a child with developmental delays puts pressure on marriages and families so we extend our services from the child to the parents and family. They all play a part in helping the child with intellectual challenges and developmental delays, behavioural problems, ADD, ADHD and social challenges where an element of bullying is noted and prevalent in classrooms,” she said.

Adams said the Centre offered its specialised services at an affordable rate to parents of the greater Durban community. “Of course individual cases will be assessed with a pre-interview to determine the type of assessment the child requires, whether it is psychology, educational psychology, speech and hearing therapy or occupational therapy. We find that many children’s difficulties are related to parents having challenges with balancing family and home,” she said.

“Normal parenting is challenging enough, but if you have a child with intellectual or behavioural challenges, as a parent, you have to be exceptionally more patient, more understanding and significantly more calmer at the end of a work day to assist and nurture your child amidst home chores. It is very pressurising for parents and we are here to help structure and strengthen families and single parents,” she added.

According to Adams, seeking help does not mean you are incapable, “If is basically the difference of the quality of life for you and your child, so take that first step, there is a lot of pressure of children these days and we can help them with correct coping mechanisms,” she encouraged.

While the Centre had taken a huge knock with a robbery which severely compromised them at the beginning of the year, Adams said repairs had been completed and she and the staff were looking forward to the future of the Centre. “We are grateful to Blue Security for upgrading our security as part of their social responsibility and Suburban Roofing who have committed to assist us with final roof repairs,” she added.

The Centre is not funded by government or the Department of Health, which is why the Centre charges a nominal fee as they are reliant on the goodwill of the Community Chest, donors and the business community. “We are always looking for volunteers from the community to assist with establishing our fundraising committee.