Why the removal of children?

The circumstances
THE woman sobbed as she sat in a room at the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) with an officer and her three children. Although she was barely paying attention to what the officer was saying, she knew what was taking place and what was coming next. The officer continued ‘….we have had several reports of child neglect and one specifically from the Schools Welfare Officer…Also when we visited your home we found the children alone, with no food and no clean drinking water, they haven’t been bathing or attending school and your living conditions were unhygienic. I am sure you are aware that it is against the law to have children living like this…anything could have happened to them in your absence.’
The woman responded between sobs with threats to harm herself should her children be taken away from her. She said she loved them and could not live without them. The three children sat on a nearby couch placidly looking on, taking in the situation as it unfolded, showing little emotion. The officer had interviewed them earlier; she learned that they were often left alone to fend for themselves and although they liked attending school, they hadn’t been there for some time.
The officer continued, ‘We simply have no alternative but to take these children into temporary care, I have spoken with my superior officer who agrees that we cannot leave them in such a vulnerable situation. We are asking you to work with the agency’s ‘family training programme’ to change your present circumstances, so that you can provide a suitable environment for your children’. The officer sensed the woman’s reluctance and defiance, so she changed tact, ‘…other families have been in this position and have come through the programme successfully, I am sure you can do the same: Don’t you want the best for your children?’ The three children were soon led away by another CPA officer and for the first time there was a flicker of emotion from them and by all accounts, it seemed like an air of relief and happiness.
THE LAW
There is a law that permits the removal of children who are living in vulnerable situations; it is the Protection of Children Act, 2009. The plight of the three siblings mentioned above was one of neglect due to the fact that their mother, a lone parent, was a chronic alcoholic.
She had been brought to the attention of the CPA previously, but after some interventions, it seemed she had turned over a new leaf when she joined an alcohol anonymous programme. Follow- up visits by CPA officers showed improvement but over time, it seems things deteriorated. In these situations it is always the children who suffer, and usually, at the very hands of adults who are meant to protect them.
The CPA is mandated to assist parents who need help in caring for their children, because children belong with their families, not in institutions or with foster parents. However, families must care for their children in the proper way. Explaining these facts to some parents can be an uphill struggle. So many parents who end up at the CPA are uncooperative or in denial when it comes to doing the right things for the welfare and well-being of their children.
THE SOLUTION
It is important for the public to know about the role that the CPA plays and how it functions within the perimeters of the law. This knowledge is imperative for building and maintaining a good public service relationship, a relationship whereby the Guyanese people can understand the agency’s mandate and work alongside Child Protection Officers in the correct way to better serve our nation’s children. (If you are concerned about the welfare of a child call the Childcare and Protection Hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com)

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