Dear Editor,
I thank you for giving me the opportunity to respond to a letter in Stabroek News of July 18, 2013 under the caption `Needs to know where children have been placed.’
The Childcare & Protection Agency (CPA) was created by an Act of Parliament in 2009 as a new Agency within the Ministry of Labour, Human Services & Social Security to enable the effective implementation of the comprehensive Child Protection Strategy embarked upon by the Government of Guyana. The Childcare & Protection Agency Act 2009 sets out the work of the Agency.
The CPA, which is a Primary Social Work Agency, is staffed by a team of trained professionals who are Public Servants and the main functions of the Agency are:
• Providing psychosocial support and other assistance to children and families at risk to prevent child abuse and unnecessary child separation from parent
• To investigate allegations, reports or complaints of abuse or neglect of children and provide a safe environment, recovery and rehabilitation for children who have suffered abuse
• To place children in foster homes or orphanages or other places of care where protection of the children can be obtained
• To assess applications for foster care, guardianship and adoption and to make recommendations and provide assistance to the courts and other authorities involved in determining such applications
The Child Protection Officer is obligated to protect the child and provide support and intervention to a family that has not met their caregiving responsibilities. Once it is determined that a child is unsafe or his/her well-being is threatened in the home, the CPA has the mandate to remove the child to a safe place, but the policy is to place the child where there will be the least disruption to his/her life. The first choice of placement is the extended family – kinship care. Institutional placement is always a last resort. After the removal of the child, the Child Protection Officer (CPO) is expected to facilitate psychosocial support for the caregiver/parent to resume the protective role as soon as possible. If returning home is not an option, then a Permanency Plan for the child would have to be established. To achieve best results for the child, the cooperation of the parent/caregiver is paramount.
In the case in question, I have been advised by the Caseworker that the children were placed in the temporary care of their paternal grandmother with the full knowledge of the parent. This grandmother lives in the same neighbourhood as the parent. The removal became necessary after earlier intervention failed to bring about the desired results for the safety of the children. The ultimate goal is to have the children return to the care of the mother but there are necessary behaviour changes and adjustments to be made in the parent: child relationship for the well-being of the family. The vulnerability that put the children at risk in the home must be eliminated for the return of the children.
Family Preservation is a policy of the CPA and interventions are based on this premise but decisions have to be made in the best interest and welfare of the child. Child protection officers are confronted daily with some of the most painful and damaging experiences that occur in the lives of children and families and in almost all of the cases, some failure or inadequacy in the parenting role is evident and the officers are obligated to make decisions and take action for the protection of the children. These decisions and actions do not always find favour with the adults in the children’s life but are necessary in the child protection process.
The CPA is asking for public support and parental cooperation as we seek to protect children in Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Ann Greene
Director of Children Services & Head of the Child Care & Protection Agency