The Problem of Street Children in Medan City

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 120 views

Introduction

Medan City, as one of the urban centers in Indonesia, is facing an increasingly complex social problem, especially related to the increasing number of street children. The presence of street children is not only a concern for the community but also a challenge for the government to address. In an effort to overcome this phenomenon, the Medan City Social Service has taken concrete steps by controlling street children in Medan Sunggal District. This study aims to reveal the process and mechanism of control implemented by the Social Service in dealing with this social problem.

The Problem of Street Children in Medan City

Street children are a common phenomenon in urban areas, including Medan City. They are often forced to live on the streets due to various reasons such as poverty, lack of education, and family instability. The presence of street children not only affects their own well-being but also has a negative impact on the community and society as a whole. Therefore, it is essential to address this issue and find a solution to control the number of street children in Medan City.

The Role of the Medan City Social Service

The Medan City Social Service has taken a proactive approach in controlling street children in Medan Sunggal District. The Social Service has implemented a comprehensive program to address the issue of street children, which includes data collection, gathering information related to the background and condition of the netted children, and contacting the parents of street children through the head of the environment or the kelurahan. This approach aims to identify the causes of the children to jump into the streets and provide the right solution based on the condition of each child's family.

The Process of Controlling Street Children

The control process began with the implementation of the raid conducted by the Civil Service Police Unit, Medan City Social Service, and URC Police Staff. After being netted in a raid, the children were taken to the Social Service to continue the stages of control. At this stage, the Social Service staff collected data collection and gathering information related to the background and condition of the netted children. This aims to identify the causes of the children to jump into the streets.

The Social Service is also trying to contact the parents of street children through the head of the environment or the kelurahan. This step is important to direct the right solution based on the condition of each child's family. The Social Service then groups children who are netted in two categories based on the existence of their parents:

Street children who have parents: The Social Service offers a guidance and rehabilitation program that involves families, to encourage them to return to the home environment and avoid life on the road.
Street children who do not have parents: The Social Service provides further treatment and attention from social institutions, such as orphanages, so that they can get proper education and training.

Analysis and Implications

From the results of interviews and observations conducted, it appears that the control efforts made by the Medan City Social Service have a positive impact. Control is not just a raid, but also a moment to pay more attention to children who are trapped in social problems. A holistic and integrated approach, both by involving families and other social institutions, is very important to reduce the number of street children and prevent them from returning to the road.

However, the challenges faced remain large. Poverty factors, lack of education, and family instability are some of the main causes that force children to be forced to live on the streets. Therefore, control must be accompanied by more comprehensive prevention programs, such as counseling to the public about the importance of education and support for families who are less able.

Conclusion

Through sustainable efforts, it is expected that controlling street children is not only a short-term solution, but also contributes to creating a better and safer society for children in the city of Medan. The Medan City Social Service has taken a proactive approach in addressing the issue of street children, and it is essential to continue and improve this effort to ensure that the number of street children in Medan City is reduced.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Continue and improve the control efforts: The Medan City Social Service should continue and improve its control efforts to ensure that the number of street children in Medan City is reduced.
Implement comprehensive prevention programs: The Social Service should implement comprehensive prevention programs, such as counseling to the public about the importance of education and support for families who are less able.
Involve families and other social institutions: The Social Service should involve families and other social institutions in the control efforts to ensure that the children receive proper education and training.

Q: What is the main goal of the Medan City Social Service in controlling street children?

A: The main goal of the Medan City Social Service is to reduce the number of street children in Medan City and provide them with proper education and training to lead a better life.

Q: What is the process of controlling street children implemented by the Medan City Social Service?

A: The control process begins with the implementation of the raid conducted by the Civil Service Police Unit, Medan City Social Service, and URC Police Staff. After being netted in a raid, the children are taken to the Social Service to continue the stages of control. At this stage, the Social Service staff collect data collection and gathering information related to the background and condition of the netted children.

Q: How does the Medan City Social Service identify the causes of children to jump into the streets?

A: The Social Service identifies the causes of children to jump into the streets by collecting data and gathering information related to the background and condition of the netted children. This includes contacting the parents of street children through the head of the environment or the kelurahan.

Q: What are the two categories of street children based on the existence of their parents?

A: The two categories of street children based on the existence of their parents are:

Street children who have parents: The Social Service offers a guidance and rehabilitation program that involves families, to encourage them to return to the home environment and avoid life on the road.
Street children who do not have parents: The Social Service provides further treatment and attention from social institutions, such as orphanages, so that they can get proper education and training.

Q: What are the challenges faced by the Medan City Social Service in controlling street children?

A: The challenges faced by the Medan City Social Service in controlling street children include poverty factors, lack of education, and family instability. These are some of the main causes that force children to be forced to live on the streets.

Q: What are the recommendations made by this study to improve the control efforts of the Medan City Social Service?

A: The recommendations made by this study to improve the control efforts of the Medan City Social Service include:

Continue and improve the control efforts: The Medan City Social Service should continue and improve its control efforts to ensure that the number of street children in Medan City is reduced.
Implement comprehensive prevention programs: The Social Service should implement comprehensive prevention programs, such as counseling to the public about the importance of education and support for families who are less able.
Involve families and other social institutions: The Social Service should involve families and other social institutions in the control efforts to ensure that the children receive proper education and training.

Q: What is the expected outcome of the control efforts of the Medan City Social Service?

A: The expected outcome of the control efforts of the Medan City Social Service is to reduce the number of street children in Medan City and provide them with proper education and training to lead a better life.