Child Protection Authority Staff Undergo 1-Day Workshop

by Donella Hosten

The Child Protection Authority (CPA) on Thursday, 6 July 2017 held a 1-day workshop for their staff members with the aim of having them better trained and more efficiently equipped to pass on their knowledge to parents and caretakers.

One member of the Board of Directors, Yvonne DaBreo, during the media launch on Thursday morning, reminded persons that they will be focusing on more preventative methods for child abuse. “No form of abuse is acceptable, and we have to champion the cause in ensuring at the end of the day, we are all advocates for child’s rights…”

Noting the importance of training, DaBreo said, the CPA is currently engaged in discussions with the National Training Agency (NTA) for a needs assessment to be conducted for their staff members. This, she said should happen within the next 3 weeks, and by the end of the year they hope to have a cadre of staff trained in parenting facilitation, to pass on their knowledge to the communities

Board member ASP Sylvan Mc Intyre, briefly addressed the press and the CPA staff. He reassured them that their interest is at heart with the new board and reiterated that training is very important to their development and how they perform their duties.

Mc Intyre also urged them not to see this as just a job, but as something they are passionate about, because they are stakeholders and contributors toward the well-being of the nation’s children.

Ann David Antoine, Chairman of the CPA Board of Directors, stated that the mandate of the CPA is to “to help to support to work with, to listen, and to move forward as one body in the state of Grenada for the benefit and the protection and the development of children and families.” She encouraged the staff and participants of the workshop to take in as much as they can and to be prepared to do what is necessary. “We are committed to [doing] whatever is necessary.”

She reminded that the CPA is the body which has been given the legal right to be at the centre of protecting the nation’s children.

Key facilitator for the workshop, David Andrew, a Counselling Therapist with the Ministry of Education, highlighted the main topics to be covered during the workshop. These included Conflict Management and Resolution, Strategies, and Key Skills for Effective Interpersonal Exchange.