Hopeline 2.0 is a collaborative partnership between the University of Pretoria (UP) and the City of Tshwane, and aims to break down silos and improve collaboration among diverse services in healthcare, social development and education across the Tshwane District.

Hopeline has been part of the Community-Oriented Substance Use Programme (COSUP) intervention since 2016, and functions as a helpline for the general public to get advice and assistance related to substance use, homelessness and gender-based violence, among others.

The Tshwane District is a large and diverse metropolis, and the challenge for the people of Tshwane and service providers is that healthcare, social development and education services are often delivered in silos, with limited integration and collaboration, or none at all. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that collaboration is possible and beneficial. This improved awareness of service providers and created a drive to work towards functional integration and collaboration.

Several initiatives have been launched to improve integration and collaboration. This includes the establishment of the District Mental Health Specialist Team, the work of the District Clinical Specialist Teams, the integration of community-based services by the City of Tshwane Health Department, and care coordination efforts of COSUP and the Community-Oriented Primary Care Research Unit as well as Higher Health.

With the development of Hopeline 2.0, Hopeline has been identified as an asset that can become a hub for care coordination. The function of care coordination will be added to the present mandate with the addition of care workers and organisations, thus allowing service providers and users to become part of Hopeline 2.0. The function of Hopeline 2.0 will therefore change from advice and referral to care coordination.

Currently, this is a collaboration between the City of Tshwane and UP. COSUP has 16 sites all over Tshwane and as far as Hammanskraal, Soshanguve, Olievenhoutbosch, Mamelodi, Atteridgeville and Eersterust, where patients with substance use challenges can be assisted and referred to Hopeline 2.0.

Hopeline is managed by clinical associates and social workers, and supported by family physicians and other professionals and specialists.

• Contact the Hopeline helpline for assistance:  
• Phone: 012 321 1940 (toll free)   
• WhatsApp: 072 048 3490

For more information about the project, contact Kate van den Berg at [email protected] or Likwa Ncube at [email protected]