Gov’t Urges Partnerships to Improve Residential Care Facilities
By: , May 13, 2016The Key Point:
Photo: Marlon Tingling
Minister of State for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green (2nd left), speaks with representatives of the Child Development Agency (CDA) and the Mannings Boys’ Home, during a visit to the residential care facility in Southfield, St. Elizabeth on Wednesday (May 11). From left are: Team Member at the CDA St. Elizabeth office, Valerie Brown Williams; CDA Southern Regional Director, Valerie Mohammad; Manager of the Mannings Boys’ Home, Delroy Brown; and Administrative Assistant at the CDA Southern Region, Dorraine Hamilton Richards.The Facts
- “What I saw with the incentive scheme – by providing reward for good behaviour – I think it is positive,” he said, while hailing the programmes in music, information technology, and sports.
- He told JIS News that he decided to start the visit in Child Month to bring national focus to children in State care and the fact that “they are as important as children, who are at home with their families and in some cases they require much more care and attention.”
The Full Story
Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, is encouraging private entities to partner with the Government to address the needs at residential care facilities across the island.
“There are some infrastructural needs that we will have to see how as a Government we can look to address, but I also think it’s an opportunity for private citizens and for corporations to come on board and help institutions like these that do excellent work in trying to treat our children,” he said.
Mr. Green was speaking to JIS News on May 11, following a tour of the Mannings Boys’ Home in Southfield, St. Elizabeth.
The facility was his first stop on his islandwide tour of children’s homes and places of safety.
The State Minister commended the management of the home for the quality of care provided for the 58 residents, and the systems put in place to encourage positive behaviour and harness creative talent.
“What I saw with the incentive scheme – by providing reward for good behaviour – I think it is positive,” he said, while hailing the programmes in music, information technology, and sports.
“We are in the business of changing lives. What we want to ensure is that when our children leave our facilities…they are better persons and that they can integrate into the society with very little difficulty,” he noted.
The State Minister’s tour of residential facilities will inform a strategic review aimed at strengthening the services provided for children in State care.
“I thought it important to start the process of visiting our homes…to see some of their critical needs, to talk to the staff on the ground, to talk to some of the children to see what they have to say and I think you have to familiarise ourselves with the issues,” he pointed out.
Mr. Green said he will not be waiting until the completion of the visits to address some of the challenges being faced.
He told JIS News that he decided to start the visit in Child Month to bring national focus to children in State care and the fact that “they are as important as children, who are at home with their families and in some cases they require much more care and attention.”