DalleyHealth Minister Horace Dalley has appealed to more Jamaicans to adopt or foster a child, noting that the best place for children to grow up is with a caring family.
The minister, who was making his contribution to the 2007/08 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, noted that as at the end of December 2006, there were 5,347 children in the care of the state.
"As 'stepfather' for our children in care, I am appealing to more citizens to foster a child or adopt and help make a difference to our children made vulnerable by circumstances beyond their control," Mr. Dalley stated.
He informed the House that last year, 2,945 children participated in the Living in Family Environments Programme, which includes foster care, home-on-trial, supervision order and adoption.
"This represents 53 per cent of the total number of children in the care and protection of the Government. This year, we plan to increase this figure to 65 per cent," the Minister said.
In the meantime, he said that several programmes had been implemented to upgrade the education and promote the personal development of children in state care and that a number of residential facilities were rehabilitated.
