Yogyakarta collaborates with 94 psychologists to provide support for daycare victims

Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - The Yogyakarta City Government is collaborating with 94 psychologists to support psychological recovery and provide accompaniment to families and victims of child abuse that occurred at Daycare Little Aresha, Sorosutan Ward, Umbulharjo District. “We are partnering with 94 psychologists from various elements, starting from the UPT PPA, Indonesian Clinical Psychologists Association, Indonesian Psychological Association (Himpi), hospitals, to community health centres in Yogyakarta City,” said the Head of the Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Office, Population Control and Family Planning (DP3AP2KB) of Yogyakarta City, Retnaningtyas, in a statement in Yogyakarta on Monday. “This psychoeducation is important to strengthen the mental state of the parents, eliminate trauma and feelings of guilt. They should not end up traumatised about entrusting their children to daycare, even though they also have to work,” she said. According to her, the Yogyakarta City Government continues to follow up on the handling of the child abuse case at Daycare Little Aresha. At least more than 100 children were cared for at that childcare facility before it was raided by the police at the end of April. She said the handling is carried out through psychological accompaniment, child development support, legal assistance, and the arrangement of daycare services in Yogyakarta. These steps are in line with the instructions of the Mayor of Yogyakarta. “The Yogyakarta City Government is still providing accompaniment, both psychologically, developmental accompaniment, and legal accompaniment. We are still accompanying all of it,” she said. Furthermore, she stated that the city government is currently relocating the children from Little Aresha to other safe and proper daycare or playgroup facilities. Currently, 39 locations have been prepared for this transition. “We are moving the children to 39 other locations, both childcare facilities (TPA) and playgroups (KB) in Yogyakarta City, and they will be funded by the city government for two months, namely May and June,” she said. According to her, the relocation process has been ongoing for a week, and to date, 88 children have participated in the transition process, while some parents have chosen to care for their children at home themselves.