One hundred and fifty-nine (159) children were placed into foster care while 37 were adopted thus far for 2019.
This was disclosed during an interview with Senior Probation and Social Services Officer Monique Meusa as the Social Protection Ministry and Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) observe foster care month under the theme “every child deserves a champion: become a mentor or foster parent today”.
Every year, November is set aside for this celebration.
With respect to foster care, the Social Protection Ministry has developed a national alternative care policy for children and it is currently working on a strategic five-year action plan for the implementation of this policy.
As such, the focus of this plan is the deinstitutionalisation of children through the promotion of family-based care and minimising the need for children to have out-of-home care by providing training, education, financial and other support for parents which enable them to provide better care for their children.
However, the Ministry now has tangible resources to prevent unnecessary separation of children from their families with the establishment of the new Children and Family Care Centre.
In addition, these youths will be housed in the same residence where there is a high degree of care, support, structure, supervision, and services that are needed to aid in their positive growth and development.
Meusa told Guyana Times International that in 2017 the mentorship programme was launched with several success stories where children were able to excel in their examinations and went on to pursue their tertiary education.
“… of course, we are calling on the public to come on board and be mentors. If it is that you cannot open your home and provide that space for a child you can come on board and be a big brother. It’s like a big brother big sister programme so you can come on board and have that child with you and give them the support and care that they need,” she added.
She also noted that this programme is geared for older children who are ageing out. As such, emphasis is being placed on the foster care group home.
The new foster care group home initiative is intended to benefit adolescent youths who are deemed in need of formal care (particularly from the Children Court).
Meanwhile, the embodying vision for the group homes is to provide a therapeutic, intimate family-like care setting for a maximum of six (6) youths to one group home provider.
Meusa added that the legislation is adequate to protect these children since it takes into consideration every harm that can be done to a child and also has systems in place to deal with such, ranging from the sexual offences act to neglect and physical abuse.
Assistant Director Tiona October noted that the organisation is similar to that of a psychologist who provides support to children who would have suffered trauma.
To pull down the curtains on foster care month, a boot day will be held at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on November 27, 2019.
Muesa urged the general public to come on board, join the programme and become a foster parent or a mentor.
