THE Foster Care Department within the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security yesterday hosted an Appreciation Ceremony for foster parents, during which all foster parents were presented with Certificates of Appreciation, and five outstanding ones were specially honoured.

The occasion, the first of its kind which signaled the hosting of many more to come, was celebrated on the lawns of the National Park (east of the Burrowes School of Art), and saw hundreds of foster parents and children in their care being colourfully and dandily dressed and coming together for the momentous but spirited occasion.
Long after the formal programme had concluded, the families and CPA officers remained under tents on the lawns, having lunch, interacting, and generally having a good time.
Human Services and Social Security Minister, Ms. Jennifer Webster, who addressed the gathering, considered it a distinct pleasure to be able to recognize the outstanding contribution made by foster parents within our society, who have provided support to many of the nation’s children in terms of fulfilling the need for closer kinship with families.
She extended her sincere appreciation to all those persons who have been foster parenting children through the years. “To all of you I say, ‘Give the gift of love and protection’,” she declared.
Minister Webster remarked that our children are innocent, vulnerable and dependent, and that their time should be spent in joy and peace, playtime and learning. Basically, she said, they should be able to enjoy their childhood, and this prepares them for adulthood; but pathetically, many of them at an early stage are denied this opportunity, and this is where the Childcare and Protection Agency, with its Foster Care Programme, has been able to fill a vital niche.
Noting that adults are all responsible for the welfare and wellbeing of our children, Minister Webster said that, pathetically, many adults do not accept this responsibility, nor do they, unfortunately, see the need to embrace it.
She said that, ideally, families should nurture, and love and provide care for, their children; but for many children, the reality is far from the ideal, resulting in too many being abandoned, neglected, vulnerable, and at risk, many times because of situations where adults have failed.
To this end, she reiterated the need for increased goodwill towards our children, noting that foster care can be very important in filling the gap that exists.
And even though foster care can, at times, be challenging, she admitted that, over time, it is rewarding to see how love, stability and routine can be behind the success stories in nurturing these children and assist them in their continued development.
Albeit, foster care should not be the first option, the minister cautioned, adding: “We believe that each child should be cared for by his or her biological family.”
She said that while Government is committed to supporting foster care –- holding the little hands of our children during difficult periods — the success of each child is dependent upon all of us. “It is ultimately both our collective and individual responsibility,” she told the hundreds gathered.
Ms. Webster stressed the need for parents to be physically present to nurture their children to realize their full potential; to prepare them to become productive adults; and to respond to the need for them to be cared for, educated and loved.
She expressed the view that, together, parents, families and Government; religious organizations, the private sector, NGOs; civil society and individuals can work to improve the lives of our children by “doing our utmost” to strengthen families.
The minister outlined that, at the national level, Government has created the requisite legislative environment; and as a country, Guyana is a signatory to a number of international human rights conventions.
The minister declared that funding provided in the national budget for the social sector has increased, to better support programmes and interventions for children within the society. She expressed concern that there are too many children who live in institutions managed by the state, and said there are now 800 of them.
Imploring all Guyanese to join in efforts to improve the lives of all children across Guyana, and support the foster care programme, Minister Webster declared: “The issue of child protection is everybody’s business…. Let’s give our children a better chance.”
And Ms. Ann Greene, Head of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), said the forum was hosted to show appreciation for the foster care parents. “It (the responsibility) is something, I say, that is priceless. We cannot pay people to provide the kind of care and support and attention that (are) need for a vulnerable child. And so, this morning, what we seek to do is provide a little token of appreciation to let (foster parents) know how we value what they’re doing for us, and that we place a high premium on foster care,” Ms Greene said.
She sees every foster care parent as being special, and would like to make that known to them. “We’re sorry that we are not in a position to give everybody bouquets,” Greene said.
She had kudos for those parents who had taken in children at ‘really critical phases’ of their lives, such as their being abandoned before even being able to walk; and their having to be taken to therapy sessions and the like.
Greene said the Foster Care Programme was introduced by the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security in 2010. At the end of that year, there were 64 children (27 boys and 37 girls) in foster care. And those numbers have increased exponentially to 206 children, with 121 foster parents in 2013. One hundred and eighteen of these children receive financial assistance through the programme, which targets children across the length and breadth of Guyana, but at this time is concentrated more on Regions Three, Four and Six.

(By Shirley Thomas)