THE child protection officers who work in the Foster Care Unit at the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) have been extra busy this month because November is Foster Care Month in Guyana.

Among other events planned and carried out so far, the officers have been enlightening the public about how they can help children in need by becoming a foster parent or a mentor; and the public have responded.

Most of the enquiries received by the unit this month have been about mentorship; more people have been showing their interest in befriending and bonding with older children in care to help fill a parental void in their lives.

Sometimes being in institutional care robs children of simple ‘know hows’ that may seem commonplace to children who live in families and communities. In addition, children in care are very rarely exposed to the warmth, security and affection that are usually integral traits of family life; neither do they receive a lot of one-to-one attention from adults.

Mentorship is about adults building relationships with young people in care in order to teach them skills that will help to enhance their everyday lives

A mentor will be someone in whom the young person can confide and talk to when they need guidance or a sense of direction. Mentors are there in good times and bad and are willing to share special occasions, holidays and outings. Mentorship is like having a young family friend in your life (and occasionally in your home) whom you care for, respect and appreciate and for whom you do your best to steer in the right direction.

Unfortunately, when it comes to foster care there was a far from similar response from the public. Many of the foster-care enquiries turned out to be about adoption; it seems people are more interested in caring for a child on a long-term or more permanent basis than the temporary and often immediate assistance that is needed in foster care.

There is an Adoption Unit at the CPA where people can find out about adopting a child. Adoption is legally binding and it can take more than six months to complete the legal process.

Because adoption is a permanent plan for a child, the utmost care is taken to guarantee that children are placed with the best family possible for their overall development and well-being. But foster care is totally different.

Fostering is about caring for vulnerable children on a temporary basis and this is where people tend to have a problem. It is quite understandable that once a person has looked after a child for a period of time, that bonding and affection will be established on both sides. It will therefore be rather difficult to part, when it is time for the child to return to his/her family.

But foster care is not based on the emotions of the foster parent: on the contrary, the most important aspect of foster care is about working in the best interest of the child. From the outset, Foster Parents must be aware that the best interest of the child is their number one priority; being selfless and understanding are the most favourable traits that foster parents can possess in their endeavour to help and protect the children in their care.

The child protection officers in each unit of the CPA work in the best interest of the children who come into their midst daily. Sometimes officers face adversity and ridicule because of the type of decisions that have to be made on behalf of children; and sometimes they are disheartened by misinformation that is spread by members of the public or media, which belies the integrity of the work they perform.

Nevertheless, despite inevitable setbacks that occur, there are success stories in each unit at the CPA; and child protection officers continue to recognise the fruits of their labour through supportive adults and parents, who do their best to help children to strive and grow in the best possible environment.

If you would like more information about Foster caring or Mentorship, call the Foster care unit on 231 8423 today. If you are concerned about the welfare of a child you can ring the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or email: childcaregy@gmail.com

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL PROTECTION