IMAGINE this scenario: A single father of three inhabits a small shed at the bottom of a yard that belongs to his ex-in-laws.
Each day he cooks for his children on a kerosene stove, and every six weeks he digs a new latrine for them to use behind a bushy area nearby.

Despite this hardship, the family manages to stay clean and healthy. They bathe at the pipe, and devised a system for washing their clothes and wares outside with relative ease. The children attend school, while their father works as a Delivery Driver for a restaurant.
Life hasn’t always been this hard. The family used to live in a two-bedroom apartment, but they were evicted when the landlord raised the rent. The father could not afford to feed his children and send them to school, plus pay bills and the rent increase.

Recently, his in-laws have been throwing remarks, which has led to some heated arguments. They want him to ‘pick up his traps and go along his way’. They are suggesting that he leaves his 14-year-old son (their grandson) for them to take care of, but he must take his 12 and seven-year-old daughters and ‘get off their property, instead of giving them mouth’.

This father is clearly in need of help. This stressful situation will no doubt impact on his children’s psychological and emotional development. Technically, he has nowhere to go, so he cannot make any plans for the future. He wants to keep his family together, but he needs time and space to sort out his present dilemma. Thankfully, there is a form of support for families who need this special type of assistance.

The Ministry of Social Protection has a Children and Family Centre based at the top of Plum Park, Section C, in Sophia. It is a place where families who fit certain criteria (such as the scenario above) can be placed for a three to six–month period. During this time, it is hoped that the support offered to the family by the Ministry will help them make the necessary transition to a better set of circumstances.

As part of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA)’s policy to prevent child abuse, it was recognised that a Family Centre in Guyana could prevent unnecessary separation of children from their biological parents. Keeping families together when they need support is the main purpose of the Centre.

**Helping families in this way could also reduce the factors that lead to child abuse as many children become victims of abuse because their parents cannot handle their everyday problems. Children need to be with their families and where possible the CPA work with parents to make sure they stay together. The Family Centre is yet another initiative to this end.

The most prevalent form of child abuse is neglect. When CPA Officers respond to this type of abuse, they have to establish whether the parents are wilfully neglecting their children, or whether it is a simple case of deprivation.

Sometimes what appears to be child neglect could just be parents going through a rough patch. If a few mattresses for their beds or some free groceries for a couple of months can help sustain a family (and keep them together), the assistance they need should be available through the Family Centre.

The Family Centre hopes to provide help for families on several levels. There will be a storeroom with provisions and furniture to help families in need, and specially trained Transitional Coaches for each family. Motivational and Therapy Sessions will be held, and stimulating Recreational Activities will be provided for the residents.

The Centre comprises of eight fully furnished family units, and four dormitory-type quarters for children, which are separated in terms of age and gender. ‘Children at risk’ are accepted at the Centre on a 24-hour basis. So, if a child is found wandering by a concerned citizen, or a few children are rescued by the police, they will be admitted (for up to three months) and assessed, and long-term provision will be made for their care.

There are stipulations and guidelines for each family who resides at the Centre, and these must be adhered to rigorously. During the first three months, the family will be assessed, and a support plan will be put in place and reviewed accordingly. The aim is for parents to be meaningfully employed, or searching for employment while learning parenting skills and strategies that will enable them to supply consistent support for their families.

Every child deserves a chance to reach their full potential, and if child abuse can be averted by easing some of the pressures that parents face before they reach breaking point, then the Family Centre is a much-needed valuable intervention.
If you are concerned about the welfare of a child call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com

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