Review of Bahay Pag-Asa Intervention Programs on Children in Conflict with the Law

This research study reviewed the Bahay Pag-Asa Intervention Programs on Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) at Bahay Pag-Asa Residential Care Center located in Purok 6, Barangay Kalikid Sur, Cabanatuan City.

The study described the five (5) participants in terms of sex, age and length of stay in the facility. It evaluated the experiences of CICL who participated in the intervention programs at the said facility. The challenges encountered by CICL in their attendance to the intervention programs were identified. Also, the researcher found out how these participants in the program coped with the identified challenges. The impact of the intervention programs at Bahay Pag-Asa were analyzed. The researcher proposed doable recommendations for enhancement of the Bahay Pag-Asa Intervention Programs on CICL.

After conducting interviews with the five participants, different themes were derived from the analysis on their responses. The study identified five (5) appropriate themes which are: varied emotions; cultivation of responsibility through caring; livelihood initiatives; spiritual enhancement; and recreational activities.

This researcher proposed the following recommendations: 1) Enhance family-centered interventions by providing consistent counseling, skills training, and family reunification activities: 2) Increase the variety and accessibility of vocational training, life skills development, and entrepreneurship programs to improve economic empowerment and reduce the likelihood of returning to unlawful activities; 3) Establish robust aftercare services, such as mentorship programs, peer support groups, and follow-up counseling; 4) Develop partnerships with local schools and alternative learning systems (ALS) to ensure educational continuity; 5) Collaborate with local governments and community organizations to implement diversion programs that address CICL issues at their roots, such as youth recreation programs, awareness campaigns, and social inclusion activities; 6) Include sustained mental health care services, including regular therapy sessions, group therapy, and workshops on emotional resilience; and 7) Institutionalize feedback mechanisms to regularly assess the effectiveness of interventions.