CCPA responds to “half-truths” being peddled in the media
Head of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA), Ann Greene has expressed concern over recent reports in the media, airing criticisms from a partner agency/organisation.
Head of the Child Care and Protection Agency Ann Greene
According to Greene, it is of great concern that a partner agency/organisation chose to promote themselves by devaluing the work of the Agency by pushing half-truths to the media.
She explained that the Agency, recognising that partnerships in child protection were essential, has been making efforts to establish partnerships with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other local groups, including religious bodies, to help children in difficult circumstances.
She asserted that the agency alone could never be effective in meeting the protection needs of children despite the employment of more social workers and the much-needed increase in resources.
“Child protection is shared responsibility and collaboration is a must, but collaboration has proven to be elusive,” she said.
Only recently, members of Help & Shelter spoke out against the agency, pointing to the fact that the CCPA has been lagging in providing effective care for children who are victims of abuse and neglect. According to the Shelter’s Director and Project Coordinator Margaret Kertzious, the NGO has become aware of the deficiencies in the agency. She stated that the system for child protection was very ineffective and transparent.
“They are the ones responsible for monitoring cases of child abuse, but sometimes they lapse big time….their job is not being done effectively,” she stated, expounding that when the Agency would seek Help & Shelter’s assistance for emergency placement of children, it would not provide the relevant information.
Kertzious noted that the Agency and the local NGO had a close collaborative relationship, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to refer cases of child abuse to the CCPA, but the Agency lacked the human and financial resources to adequately respond to the number of child abuse cases reported.
The Help & Shelter Director stated that while there have been many consultations and promises of collaboration between the CCPA and the Shelter, this has not materialised except for the referrals.
However, Greene, in her response, emphasised that the Agency continues to face challenges in building partnerships and effective collaboration with NGOs and other service providers. Some of these challenges, she said, include self-aggrandisement, petty jealousy, personal agendas, determined quest for heroism, rivalry, competition rather than cooperation, and the promotion of oneself by degrading others.
“The CCPA is concerned when partner agencies/organisations promote themselves by devaluing the work of the Agency and supplying half-truths to the media. Many are not in authority to comment on the work of the Agency, since there is little understanding of the work done or the laws or policy governing the operations and many are not in a position to pass judgement. These actions only serve to derail the collaboration process,” the Agency’s head asserted.
She added that the State Agency was the primary duty bearer and must put in place effective laws, programmes, procedures, regulatory and monitoring framework to ensure children are protected, and their rights and quality of care are guaranteed, but to really make these work for children and to lessen the number of children who fall through the cracks in the system, a collaborative approach is required.
“This entails key child protection and children agencies, including the Police and NGOs seriously working together in a form of alliance. This approach is known to have worked well in international countries to fill some of the gaps in the national system,” she noted.
As to the claims of the Agency’s inefficiency, the Head of the CCPA said, “Come on folks, if you are really concerned about children and want to make a difference, cut the criticism and putdown of the State Agency; come meet with us, bring your suggestions and let us work together to protect children in Guyana.”
