The Office of the Children's Advocate (OCA) has commissioned a study of the island's foster-care system with a view to assessing its effectiveness. The office will also make policy recommendations for the enhancement of the current programme being operated by the Child Development Agency (CDA).

The study, which commenced this month, is expected to be completed within the next two months and is being conducted by the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona.

Purpose of study

According to Children's Advocate Mary Clarke in a statement Tuesday, the study seeks to examine the effectiveness of the current foster-care programme as a means of de-institutionalising children in state care in light of the need to attract more guardians.

"If we are going to promote foster care as an alternative to institutionalisation, then we need to study the current system so that we can enhance service delivery based on empirical data," she explained.

She said the research would call for the interviewing of foster children and their foster parents to ascertain exactly what is happening in the programme. It will also examine how the programme is administered and managed.

Additionally, Clarke said the views of graduates from the programme would also be solicited, as their recommendations were vital to the enhancement of the existing programme.

There are 2,592 children in childcare facilities across the island and 1,159 in foster care. Official statistics also show that there are approximately 805 foster parents in Jamaica.

The CDA has over the years continued its drive in encouraging suitable Jamaicans to become involved in foster care, as it sought to reduce significantly the number of children in residential care.

Role of Foster parents

Foster parents are expected to provide a safe haven, as well as meet the needs of children who become wards of the state as a result of abuse, orphanhood, abandonment, neglect or poverty.

However, while foster parents are expected to contribute to children's development, the State provides a monthly allowance towards the maintenance of each foster child, as well as fees for clothing, books, school fees and medical bills where necessary.

Persons aged 25 to 65 are ideally selected, but consideration may be given to persons over 65 years, particularly if the individual is a relative of the child and can demonstrate strong family support.