Tendai Franklyn-Brown, Staff Reporter

The Ministry of National Security and various community agencies are using parenting groups to implement programmes to equip parents with skills and practices to enhance the rearing of the next generation.

Morin Seymour, executive director of Kingston Restoration Company, commended the partnership of agencies under the Citizenship Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) for reaching out to individuals through skills and education to improve the communities of Jamaica.

"All who attend will leave with a greater knowledge and resolve to use the info gathered to stimulate positive change at the community level," said Seymour.

Orville Simmonds, CSJP community action coordinator, reiterated the importance of the role of parenting to the foundation on which children are brought up.

"The involvement of National Security is to work in tandem with parents to create safer communities in Jamaica because the business of crime control is the responsibility of everyone," he said.

tendai.franklyn-brown@gleanerjm.com

Parenting programmes have been identified as a means of mobilising parents. Majorie Conder, monitoring co-ordinator of CSJP, gave an overview of the parenting programmes, currently underway in 26 communities.

"The goal is to create a forum for parents who can benefit from sharing ideas and encourage parenting practice," she said.