By Trudy Simpson, Freelance Writer THE CHILD Development Agency (CDA) is expected to get help soon with several of its programmes, particularly its foster care programme, courtesy of Grace, Kennedy and Co. Ltd.
This was disclosed at Saturday's church service to mark the start of 'National Child Month', which is being observed under the theme, 'Nurturing our Children for a Brighter Tomorrow.' Youngsters participation in the service, which took place at Kencot Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Osbourne Road, St. Andrew, including conducting it, preaching the sermon and rendering songs.
"We are in dialogue with the Child Development Agency to see how we can help, particularly with its foster-care programme," said Erwin Burton, Grace's chief operating officer, Food Training Division, who delivered greetings on behalf of Douglas Orane, Child Month patron and chairman and CEO of Grace.
Grace, Kennedy and Co. is expected to help with public education and other activities involving the foster care programme but was waiting for more information from the agency to better assess the needs, said Maxine McDonnough of Creative Projects, which handles Grace, Kennedy's public relations.
In January, the CDA said it expected to place 300 wards of the state in foster care by the next financial year, as part of a wider programme to increase placements each year. The agency commenced its thrust to channel wards of State into foster care and out of Government institutions in April 2003.
CDA statistics show that up to September 30, 2003, there were 1,073 children in foster care.In previous interviews, following investigations into allegations of child abuse and inadequate monitoring in several children's homes and places of safety, Alison Anderson, CEO of the CDA, said she wanted to boost the number of foster and adoptive homes because her vision is de-institutionalisation. Instituionalisation, she said, was eight to 12 times more expensive than even therapeutic foster care.
Ms. Anderson, who on Saturday delivered greetings on behalf of Health Minister John Junor, appealed to parents, caregivers and guardians and other adults, stating that their "help is crucial for (the) successful implementation of the recently-passed Childcare and Protection Act, which among other things, speaks to the establishment of a central registry to report abuses."
