Kingston – The Ministry of Education says that a policy has been developed to accelerate family type place of children three years and under who are entering state care.
In making the announcement earlier this week, Minister of Education Education Fayval Williams said the Ministry has been working with the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), in order to facilitate this.
“This will ensure that children zero to three years old, who have entered State care, are placed in an approved placement under a foster-care arrangement until their case is resolved, either by family reintegration, kinship care or by some other appropriate permanent placement, such as adoption.”
Williams, who was speaking in Parliament said that a draft Cabinet submission has been prepared and is currently circulated to the relevant stakeholders for comments.
“Upon receipt of these comments, the approval of the Cabinet will be sought for the Ministry to embark on this policy direction,” she said.
Meanwhile, with technical support from Winrock International, the study of Children Living and Working on the Street was completed and submitted to Cabinet for approval.
The Minister of Education said an analysis of the root causes underpinning children living and working on the street indicates that consumption poverty is the most obvious push factor for child labour on the streets, and the potential for quick monetary gains is the most significant pull factor.
She noted that Cabinet’s approval was secured for the circulation of the final document as well as for the establishment of a multisesctoral body to review and finalise a Street and Working Children Framework of Action and oversee the implementation of said Framework of Action.
The Minister added that the CPFSA is currently in the process of establishing the Task Force. (CMC)
