Head of the Child Care Agency, Ann Greene, has said that the commissioning of the ‘Safe House for Children’ is yet another achievement for child care and protection services in Guyana.Greene made those remarks at the opening of the Sophia home on Friday last. She said that some people might ask why build a safe home, when the policy is the promotion of family-based children.“Indeed we are promoting and supporting parents to take better care of their children and even returning children from institutional care to their biological families where possible. Every effort is made to prevent unnecessary separation of children from their parents but a safe house is needed more than ever, for the home is where the hurt is for too many children” Greene said.Greene said that persons were taught to be aware of the proverbial ‘dirty old man at the corner’ but today the dirty old man is in the home and that the streets are safer than the home for many children.Greene further disclosed that records show that most of the abuses are perpetrated in the home and the parents and guardians are the perpetrators.This necessitates the provision of a safe alternative accommodation for children while the problem of the abuse in their own homes is being addressed.The building, she says, offers the perfect setting to provide the children in need of care and protection with the best care possible.It was explained that the place is ‘home away from home’ but this will be nothing if the persons providing the care and attention for the children who will be occupying these quarters fail to execute their duties in the manner that is expected of them.The staff, Greene explained, are the care givers and they must ensure that this really is a safe house, a sanctuary; a place where a child feels safe and comfortable and needs are met.Greene said that there are reports of “uncaring” care givers and care givers who mistreat and mishandle children in their care. This can give the care service a bad name.“I am going to use this opportunity to sound a warning here today to the guilty few, I say, get out of the profession, for mistreatment of children in care will not be tolerated.That warning is not only for caregivers of this centre but to all the child care services centres throughout the country, she added.Children can’t come in for shelter from abuse and be exposed to further abuse, Greene stated.“We are going to throw the book at you, you know, hit you with all we got…but to the caring ones, the ones who work the long hours to ensure that the children in their care are properly cared for, the clothes clean and of the right size, the meals well prepared and attractively served, the play and living area clean and healthy; and still take time to lend a listening ear and to say to the underachiever yes you can… I want to thank.”She personally thanked Ms. Bledman,China Jerseys NFL, who according to her, gives exceptional services to child care.This centre is a refuge for children – they come in here because something in their home environment is not right and put them at risk. It is double jeopardy for them, if they are exposed to the same risk and shabby treatment.Greene said that CCPA has to ensure that this is indeed a safe house – providing temporary care for children while every effort is done to provide them with the needed family based care.She also took the time to encourage persons to come forward and be part of our foster care programme.“Open your homes and your hearts and take a child in; become a foster parent today.”She further told the gathering that a number of children in care will never be able to return home.She said the level of dysfunction in many of the homes and families is so high that it will take years and numerous resources to overcome.The only chance some of the children have for family-based care is through the foster care programme so I am appealing to you to come forward, foster a child and be part of the future. Every child rescued from abuse is a generation being saved.
