Parents call for more support services, especially for fathers

Elizabeth Gonzales

Parents on Monday called for more support services, for fathers especially, and social intervention to be included in the Trinidad and Tobago National Parenting policy during Phase 2 of a two-day national consultation in Tobago hosted by the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services.

Despite the low turnout on the first day at the Canaan/Bon Accord Community Centre on Monday, Tobagonians present shared their concerns on the lack of parenting support on the island, calling for more support from caregivers, and assistance for vulnerable children whose parents were incarcerated.

“We have to look at the vulnerability factors because where there is vulnerability the risk is increased. The risks towards deviance are greater and must be identified and managed. The impact will be seen through an increase in criminal activities and delinquency in schools," said Ingrid Melville, Chief Executive Office (CEO) of the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA).

Vandal Thomas, Community Social Worker, stressed on the importance of practising discipline with love in parenting.

“Parents must provide for the wellbeing of the children which should be top priority. There is a need for immediate intervention for unmannerly children to prevent run in with the law in the long run," he said.

Thomas also said more must be done to make parents in Tobago aware of the free services to assist with parenting.

"A lot of parents want to do parenting a different way, their own way but there must be structure. Once they have the understanding how parenting should be they can now develop their parenting skills in a new way," he said.

One parent requested that the paternity leave be extended from a few days to some months for fathers with a newborn baby and that more emphasis should be placed on the negative influences of media on children.

A suggestion for advice on same sex parenting in the policy was also made. In response Angelique Taylor, Social Planning and Research officer attached to the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services said, “the policy doesn’t address that (same sex parenting) just yet, probably because it’s not a part of the social landscape now.

"We need to have some sort of statement coming forward on that particular aspect.”

Speaking from the floor Robert Bob called on the ministry to clearly define positive parenting.

“For this policy to work we must know what the policy means by positive parenting. There is also one section that says it’s going to give fathers information packs; fathers need more than that. There must be more effective parenting training programmes to show our parents how to be positive parents and get them involved as much as possible,” he recommended.

Natalia Joseph, Coordinator for the Signal Hill Youth Development Centre said even though policy was important, young people and parents need action.

“As much as it is important to protect and provide when we communicate with them, we will understand their need and their needs will be addressed accordingly,” she said.