Stakeholder Relationships in the Child Protection Organisation (CPO) Sector: A Strategic Integrated Communication Approach

This article explores the applicability of a strategic integrated approach to communication to manage stakeholder relationships in the child protection organisation context. The Niemann (2005) implementation model for strategic integrated communication in the for-profit sector was taken as the poin...

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Main Authors: Anette Degenaar, Lynnette Fourie, Lida Holtzhausen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Johannesburg 2025-05-01
Series:Communicare
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/jcsa/article/view/2875
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author Anette Degenaar
Lynnette Fourie
Lida Holtzhausen
author_facet Anette Degenaar
Lynnette Fourie
Lida Holtzhausen
author_sort Anette Degenaar
collection DOAJ
description This article explores the applicability of a strategic integrated approach to communication to manage stakeholder relationships in the child protection organisation context. The Niemann (2005) implementation model for strategic integrated communication in the for-profit sector was taken as the point of departure. Taking the specific challenges and constraints of the child protection organisation sector into account, the Niemann model is adapted to a framework for strategic integrated communication in the child protection organisation sector. The study included focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with communication practitioners, managers and social workers from four registered national child protection organisations, along with external media and law experts. The results indicate that while the basic guidelines of the strategic integrated communication model apply to child protection organisations, not all aspects are attainable in the context of the child protection organisation. The strategic integrated communication framework for the child protection organisation context argues for integrated collaboration across contextual, organisational, stakeholder and environmental integration areas. The strategic integrated communication framework emphasises the interrelatedness needed to achieve communication outcomes, build strong relationships, maintain a recognisable brand, and report responsibly on child protection issues. The study identifies five enablers – learning mindset, expertise sharing, networking, advocacy and technology adoption – to achieve the strategic goal of safeguarding vulnerable children. It is recommended to move from a stakeholder integration area to a stakeholder responsive area, which emphasises building trusting relationships and a recognisable brand. 
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publishDate 2025-05-01
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spelling doaj-art-32703a71b45f49ad929fda6a3cbb7e382025-08-20T03:48:31ZengUniversity of JohannesburgCommunicare0259-00692957-79502025-05-0144110.36615/xkebrf47Stakeholder Relationships in the Child Protection Organisation (CPO) Sector: A Strategic Integrated Communication ApproachAnette Degenaar0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7128-4958Lynnette Fourie1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7128-4958 Lida Holtzhausen2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1275-6684North-West UniversityNorth-West UniversityNorth-West University This article explores the applicability of a strategic integrated approach to communication to manage stakeholder relationships in the child protection organisation context. The Niemann (2005) implementation model for strategic integrated communication in the for-profit sector was taken as the point of departure. Taking the specific challenges and constraints of the child protection organisation sector into account, the Niemann model is adapted to a framework for strategic integrated communication in the child protection organisation sector. The study included focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with communication practitioners, managers and social workers from four registered national child protection organisations, along with external media and law experts. The results indicate that while the basic guidelines of the strategic integrated communication model apply to child protection organisations, not all aspects are attainable in the context of the child protection organisation. The strategic integrated communication framework for the child protection organisation context argues for integrated collaboration across contextual, organisational, stakeholder and environmental integration areas. The strategic integrated communication framework emphasises the interrelatedness needed to achieve communication outcomes, build strong relationships, maintain a recognisable brand, and report responsibly on child protection issues. The study identifies five enablers – learning mindset, expertise sharing, networking, advocacy and technology adoption – to achieve the strategic goal of safeguarding vulnerable children. It is recommended to move from a stakeholder integration area to a stakeholder responsive area, which emphasises building trusting relationships and a recognisable brand.  https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/jcsa/article/view/2875Child protection organisations (CPOs) nonprofit organisations (NPOs)South Africastakeholder relationshipsstakeholder responsivenessstrategic communication
spellingShingle Anette Degenaar
Lynnette Fourie
Lida Holtzhausen
Stakeholder Relationships in the Child Protection Organisation (CPO) Sector: A Strategic Integrated Communication Approach
Communicare
Child protection organisations (CPOs)
nonprofit organisations (NPOs)
South Africa
stakeholder relationships
stakeholder responsiveness
strategic communication
title Stakeholder Relationships in the Child Protection Organisation (CPO) Sector: A Strategic Integrated Communication Approach
title_full Stakeholder Relationships in the Child Protection Organisation (CPO) Sector: A Strategic Integrated Communication Approach
title_fullStr Stakeholder Relationships in the Child Protection Organisation (CPO) Sector: A Strategic Integrated Communication Approach
title_full_unstemmed Stakeholder Relationships in the Child Protection Organisation (CPO) Sector: A Strategic Integrated Communication Approach
title_short Stakeholder Relationships in the Child Protection Organisation (CPO) Sector: A Strategic Integrated Communication Approach
title_sort stakeholder relationships in the child protection organisation cpo sector a strategic integrated communication approach
topic Child protection organisations (CPOs)
nonprofit organisations (NPOs)
South Africa
stakeholder relationships
stakeholder responsiveness
strategic communication
url https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/jcsa/article/view/2875
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AT lynnettefourie stakeholderrelationshipsinthechildprotectionorganisationcposectorastrategicintegratedcommunicationapproach
AT lidaholtzhausen stakeholderrelationshipsinthechildprotectionorganisationcposectorastrategicintegratedcommunicationapproach