There are approximately 160 children enrolled in Dominica’s foster care programme, which highlights the imperative of collective efforts concerning the welfare of children, according to Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services, Dr. Cassandra Williams.
The minister made these remarks while speaking at the launching ceremony of a Co-Parenting Campaign held on Wednesday.
The campaign is expected to run until February 2026.
“Currently, there are at least 160 children enrolled in Dominica’s foster care program,” she revealed. “While some of these placements provide long-term stability, many are transitional arrangements offering children a safe place while families work towards reunification.”
According to her, in these circumstances, effective co-parenting becomes even more crucial, ensuring that biological parents, foster parents, and social workers maintain open communication and shared responsibility for their child’s emotional and developmental well-being.
“The campaign therefore reinforces the principle that regardless of living arrangements every child deserves consistent love, guidance and care from the adults entrusted with their growth,” Dr. Williams stated. “It emphasizes healthy co-parenting practices built on communication, respect, and stability.”
In the meantime, Child Protection Officer at the Department of Social Services, Nicole Toussaint-Jno Baptiste, echoed Williams’ theme, noting that in today’s society, an increasing number of children are being raised in households where parents are separated or divorced and their parenting arrangements are not always managed effectively.
“The Department of Social Services can highlight an increase in the number of clients seeking our services for access, child maintenance, and custody matters, because the Co-Parenting relationship is breaking down,” she stated.
Toussaint-Jno Baptiste stressed that too often children are caught in the middle, facing emotional difficulties that can affect their growth and development.
“It is in this context, the national campaign was developed under the theme: ‘Apart but United- A Co-Parenting Campaign'” she said. “This theme underscores the message that although parents may be separated, they can still collaborate effectively in the best interest of their child.”
The two most vulnerable groups in society are children a the very elderly. It is incumbent on the government and all of us to do much more to create a safe and healthy environment for ALL particularly the two aforementioned groups.
In Dominica the number of foster children is much too high in ratio to the small population. There are always abuses and wrongdoings in any foster care system. Although many foster parents genuinely care for their wards, some do it for the benefits they collect frm the authorities.
The social safety nets leave much to be desired Dominica like most others things in the country. Dominica is disintegrating while the uncaring, shady head honcho frequents the remotest parts of the globe mostly for pleasure under the guise of national duty.