HOME	AUGUST 28st, 2004

AUGUST 28

The local Caregivers Programme which provides early child care for children is said to be receiving a positive response in the parish of St. David's. That's according to local coordinator Dawn Cyrus, Senior Counsellor in the Ministry of Social Development.

She said that the parish was chosen as a trial for the programme because there was a need for such an initiative in that area. Cyrus made the comment during the conclusion of the Regional Learning Network (RLN) inaugural meeting for Roving Caregivers Programme in the Windward Islands which was held at the Coyaba Beach Resort in the south of the island.

The RLN is a grouping comprised of all Coordinators in the sub-region that are implementing the Roving Caregivers Programme. Cyrus disclosed that the programme started off with 20 children and that at the end of the experimental stage there were almost 100. "I must report that despite some initial challenges it is now well accepted within the parish" she told reporters following the conclusion of the RLN in St. George's last week.

As part of the Programme, Caregivers visited the homes of women with children under the ages of three and shared information about child care development. They also engaged the children in stimulation exercises for growth and development. Following the conclusion of the meeting a regional organisation of Caregivers was formed.

Susan Brancker of the Caribbean Support Initiative (CSI) was high in praise for the formation of the regional body. She said that the establishment of a network around parenting supports, presents a unique opportunity for the region's practitioners to build on each other's experiences while sharing and learning from each other.