The Sanctuary Center is a 24-hour residential care facility established by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in 1988.
Located in the WelfareVille Compound in Mandaluyong City, it provides a safe and supportive environment for abandoned, neglected, and unattached women aged 18 and older with improved psycho-social disabilities.
The center aims to help these women reintegrate into society by boosting their self-esteem, offering rehabilitative services, and providing opportunities for self-reliance and productivity.
Residents benefit from a variety of programs, including health care, social services, skills training, and spiritual enrichment, all designed to prepare them for a return to their families and communities.
What is the Sanctuary Center?
The Sanctuary Center is a 24-hour residential care facility.
It helps abandoned, neglected, and unattached women, 18 years and older, who have improved psycho-social disabilities.
The center was established in 1988 and is located in the WelfareVille Compound in Mandaluyong City.
According to recent DSWD statistics, the center has assisted over 1,500 women since its inception, offering them a chance to rebuild their lives.
In 2023 alone, the center supported 120 women, helping them reintegrate into society through comprehensive rehabilitation programs.
These programs include health care, social services, skills training, and spiritual enrichment, all aimed at boosting the self-esteem and self-reliance of the residents.
The Sanctuary Center’s ongoing efforts have been highlighted in recent news, showcasing its impact on the community and its role in providing hope and a new beginning for many women.
Purpose of the Facility
The Sanctuary Center aims to be a top-notch facility for helping women with improved mental conditions reintegrate into their families and communities.
Its mission is to provide care, rehabilitation, and services to boost the residents’ abilities, self-esteem, and chances to become self-reliant and productive.
The main goal is to help these women return to their families and communities.
Target Clients
The center helps women aged 18 to 59 years who:
- Have improved mental conditions certified by a psychiatrist.
- Are non-violent and manageable.
- Are free from communicable diseases and can move around despite any physical limitations.
- Are unattached, abandoned, or have lost contact with their families.
- Have been rescued from the streets or referred by various organizations.
Objectives
The facility’s main aim is to boost the self-esteem and social skills of women with improved mental conditions.
The goal is for them to return to their families or find other living arrangements.
Specifically, the center aims to:
- Provide health care and residential services to support residents’ social and psychological abilities.
- Offer rehabilitative services and activities in a group setting.
- Provide occupational activities to help residents learn new skills and regain self-respect.
- Serve as a model for other similar programs.
Programs and Services
The center offers a variety of services:
1. Social Services
These help residents adjust to and participate in the therapeutic community.
Individual case management plans are made based on each resident’s abilities.
2. Homelife Services
These include basic needs like shelter, food, and clothing.
Residents are grouped by age, needs, and mental condition.
House parents and caregivers teach home management skills.
3. Productivity and Skills Training Services
Residents receive basic education and training.
The goal is to help them reunite with their families, reintegrate into society, and become economically independent.
Training includes:
-
- Agriculture: vegetable gardening, planting fruit trees, ornamental gardening.
- Practical Skills: housekeeping, soap making, perfume making, pastry making.
- Workshop Projects: sewing, pillow making, jewelry making, accessory making.
4. Psychological Services
Mental health practitioners assess residents to determine their mental abilities and social interests.
They then create a treatment plan with specific goals.
5. Health and Nutrition
Residents receive medical and dental exams, psychiatric evaluations, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other treatments.
6. Recreational and Cultural Activities
These activities promote social, physical, and cultural development.
Events like birthdays, Nutrition Month, Family Month, Sports Fest, and Mental Health Month are celebrated.
Activities include film showings, games, sports, and swimming.
7. Dietary Services and Procedures
These ensure residents receive nutritious and balanced meals.
Residents also participate in kitchen tasks like food preparation, cooking, cleaning, and dishwashing.
8. Spiritual Enrichment
Residents are free to practice their religious beliefs.
Activities include weekly mass or worship services, Bible studies, rosaries, and novenas.
Recent Update
Secretary Rex Gatchalian Visits Sanctuary Center in Mandaluyong City
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian toured the Sanctuary Center in Mandaluyong City, assessing facility conditions and checking on the well-being of female residents on February 7, 2023.
DSWD officials visited Jose Fabella Center, Nayon ng Kabataan, and Sanctuary Center to enhance programs for the marginalized. The visit aimed to assess and improve services for vulnerable sectors, ensuring quality care for residents.
Video: DSWD SANCTUARY CENTER DOCUMENTARY VIDEO CAVITE ASMEPPS 103 A LC PMJF
The DSWD Sanctuary Center in Cavite is featured in this short documentary video, showcasing the center’s programs and services. It also highlights its role in providing care and support to those in need.
Contact Information – Sanctuary Center
-
- Address: WelfareVille Compound, Correctional Road, Mandaluyong City
- Telephone: 02 8532 1164
- Website: DSWD Sanctuary Center
- Google Map Location
Final Thoughts
Women with improved mental conditions deserve a chance to change and develop new skills.
Thanks to the Sanctuary Center, these women can reunite with their families, reintegrate into their communities, and contribute to society.