46
•
institutional strengthening of the Social Services Delivery
•
continuation of decentralisation of Social Services Delivery
•
establishment of a Social Services Centre in Point Fortin
175.
In the areas of Gender and Child Development, a key priority of Government is the
protection of the rights of the nation’s children especially those affected by crime and those who
are socially disadvantaged. The Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development (MGYCD)
will continue to provide safe accommodation, educational opportunities and counseling services
for those children and other individuals who are affected and in need of such services. In the
2014-2016 period, the Ministry’s will focus on the preparation of designs and the
commencement of construction of the following facilities estimated to cost $108.6 million:
•
a Transition Home aimed at enabling children from Children’s Homes to be
equipped with life skills to navigate the road to self-sustaining adulthood
•
the construction of three (3) Interdisciplinary Child Development Centres and the
refurbishment of another at Couva
•
construction of (4) Assessment Centres where abused children can be seen by social
workers, medical professionals, psychologists and other service providers in order to
determine an appropriate care plan
•
an Institute of Healing aimed at offering counseling and other healing therapies to
individuals and groups who have experienced violence and trauma
•
a Respite Centre which will offer relief to caregivers for children with special needs
through the provision of counseling, therapy, training and advice
•
establishment of a Model Children’s Home
•
the construction of three (3) Safe Houses to provide safe and secure shelters that
offer services specific to the needs of women, men, boys and girls who are victims
of domestic violence
176.
The Children’s Authority will focus on the implementation of its programme aimed at the
protection of the nation’s children. The programme is estimated to cost $29.2 million and
comprises the following projects:
•
support to Community Residences to implement Standards
•
customisation and outfitting one Assessment Centre at Chaguanas
and another
one
Assessment Centre and one (1) Regional Office at
Ste. Madeleine
•
establishment of five (5) Reception Centres and Places of Safety
•
implementation of New Foster Care Programme
•
establishment of a Child Protection Library
177.
In addition, the MGYCD will implement the establishment of the following at an
estimated cost of $5 million over the three (3) year period:
