Mission
To protect and care for every child through advocacy, counselling, and empowering the family, and where necessary provide alternative families and support, in an environment of trust with loyalty and competency.
Vision
To have a comprehensive Social Service that addresses the Care and Protection needs of the child and family.
Objectives
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- Providing and maintaining Child Care Centers for children in need of care and protection, such as Day Care Centers and Children’s Homes.
- Offering counselling and other services for:
- children in need of care and protection
- the parents and guardians of those children
- Placing children in Foster Care and supervising these placements.
- Registering and regulating Private Day Care Services.
- Assessing applicants for adoption, placing children for adoption with approved adoptive parents, and monitoring those children who have been placed for adoption.
Programmes
Adoption
Adoption is a legal process whereby an individual or couple assumes the role of parents for a child who is not their biological child.
The Child Care Board facilitates the process through the assessment and approval of the prospective adoptive parents; statutory supervision of the child/children in the adoptive placements and provision of the Court Reports.
Foster Care
Foster Care is an alternative to Residential Care. It is a form of family-based care for children who cannot stay in their homes because they have been harmed or they are at risk if they remain in the care of their family or caregivers. Foster Care is a partnership between the Child Care Board and an approved individual or couple. These individuals are approved after a thorough investigation by a Child Care Officer. The Child Care Board provides ongoing support to the child/children placed with the approved foster parent(s). Support is also given to foster parent(s).
Intake and Child Abuse
The Child Care Board investigates cases of Child Abuse and Neglect reported to the Child Care Board.
The Board also facilitates referrals to other Social Services Agencies so that children and their families can obtain the most appropriate and holistic assistance that is available.
Residential Care
To place children who are in need of care and protection in a residential facility, in which there exists affection and personal interest, stability, respect for his/her personality, and regard for his/her self-esteem.
Children may be taken into care or placed in residential facilities for several reasons, including:
- Lack of parents or guardians
- Abandonment
- Illness or incapacity of a parent or guardian (whether short-term or long- term)
- Eviction
- Child abuse and neglect
- Adoption
Day Care
The term Day Care denotes more than a child minding oriented service. It means providing a safe and stimulating environment that fosters the growth and development of children between the ages of three (3) months and five (5) years. Day care provides children with a “head start” to formal school programmes.
The Child Care Board operates fifteen (15) Day Care Centres across the island.
Private Day Care
The Child Care Board is responsible for the registration of Private Child Care Centres and the monitoring of these approved centres. It also advises and assists Private Day Care Operators on matters related to child care and staff training.
Voluntary and Mentorship Programme
This program creates an essential connection between children in residential care and the community. Individuals and organizations engage in this valuable initiative by visiting children in various residences for mentoring.
This programme provides a very important link between the children in residential care and the community. Individuals and organizations participate in this meaningful initiative by visiting the children in the various residences to provide mentoring.
Sponsorship
This program offers financial support to children who are clients of the Child Care Board and live either in the community or in various Children’s Homes. Assistance can be provided on either a short-term or long-term basis by organizations or individuals. These organizations and individuals determine the type and amount of monetary or in-kind contributions they wish to make.
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