New Report Outlines Recommendations For Jamaican Children In State Care

KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The Children’s Advisory Panel (CAP) has submitted a report to the Child Development Agency (CDA) outlining recommendations to improve the lives of children in care of the state.

CAP, developed by the CDA in collaboration with the Children’s Council of Jamaica, was established to foster child participation, and to consult children on issues affecting them.

CAP Chairman Charles Young said the report was based on findings of several sessions held with children, and their care givers at four residential state homes under the CAP; ‘Plant a Tree’ scheme.

“The main idea behind the name is that we would go to state homes and we would plant a tree and the tree would be symbolic of our relationship and just as the tree grows so our relationship will grow as well,” he said.

CAP member Kinshasia Johnson said the report outlined some of the educational and psychological needs of the children and what was observed at the homes.

“We told them about the problems we found at the homes and some possible solutions. Some of the problems they are aware of and some they weren’t aware of, but, nevertheless we told them about it,” she said.

“Some of the problems were that the children were not satisfied with the level of education they were getting. Some of them could not be trusted to be sent on the road. Some of them were not interested in what was being taught. Some of the boys were interested in skilled areas of study while others wanted a higher level of educational training,” she added.