The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) has placed 66 children with foster families this year, in keeping with its goal to reduce the number of children in institutionalised care.
This brings the total to 220 children (109 girls and 111 boys) with 131 foster parents, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported yesterday.
Nineteen children were reunited with their biological families and three were adopted by their foster parents, the CPA said in its annual review.
Eight children were placed with foster parents in Regions One and Nine; nine attained independent living status, while 39 formally left the foster care system. Some 35 cases were reviewed and 43 foster care applicants were also screened and approved, DPI said.
Minister of Human Services, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, who recently installed the Adoption Board, said the Board has started clearing the backlog of adoption cases.
“They are doing it in batches of six to eight cases every time they meet so it’s an ongoing process and I think they have (had) two to three meetings since they have been installed,” she told DPI’s ‘The Progress Report.’
The CPA’s mentorship programme also saw six new applications. This programme recruits adults to mentor children above the age of 16, who are aging-out of State care.
In 2021, the CPA plans to continue efforts to reduce the institutionalisation of children. The Agency aims to place at least 40 children into non-biological and biological care during the first quarter, DPI said.
With regard to international adoptions, Dr. Persaud told DPI that these were halted as Guyana must meet the obligations of the Hague Adoption Convention to which it is a signatory. That Convention seeks to protect children from exploitation, trafficking and abuse.
“We are trying to be in line with the Hague Convention. The legislation has been amended; the Attorney General’s office has been working very closely with us. So, that will go to Parliament and so, until that legislation is passed by the Parliament, international adoption will be on hold.”
