On Wednesday May 4th, 2016 The IPP hosted a Public Forum on the subject of Positive Parenting at the University of the West Indies, that was a great success.
The link below is to a news article we published after the event, that includes further links to photos, news articles and a handout that was distributed at the Forum.
Positive Parenting Forum Feedback And Information
Further to this we have also put together a few videos as a recap for those that were in attendance, or for informational purposes for those that were not fortunate enough to make it on the day.
We are also providing links, information and contact details for the speakers that were present on the day and for organisations that support this amazing initiative.
Forum Schedule
- Mr Garfield Leslie Higgins: Senior advisor to the Minister of Education, Youth and Information
- Moderator Introduction – Mrs Claudette Pious: Children First
- Parenting Skit: performed by the Bashy Bush Kru, from Children First
- Dr Patrece Charles-Freeman: Executive Director of the National Parenting Support Commission
- Ms Marsha Baker: Senior Legal Policy Officer at the Office of the Children’s Advocate
- Dr Kim Scott: Programme Director of The Child Resiliency Programme, a Violence Prevention Alliance Project
- Mrs Rosalie Gage-Grey: Child Development Agency
- Mr Smith: Registrar of the Office of the Children’s Registry
- Rev James Bell: HOLY Project
- Q&A session
Videos
Below is an example of the videos that have been loaded up onto YouTube, along with links to all the videos, and a playlist of them all.
You can find all of these videos and more by visiting our YouTube channel by clicking here, on the YouTube logo in the footer of every page, or feel free to click on the individual links below.
IPP Positive Parenting Forum Playlist
IPP Positive Parenting Forum – MoE
IPP Positive Parenting Forum – Bashy Bus Krew Skit
IPP Positive Parenting Forum – NPSC
IPP Positive Parenting Forum – OCA
IPP Positive Parenting Forum – VPA
IPP Positive Parenting Forum – CDA
IPP Positive Parenting Forum – OCR
IPP Positive Parenting Forum – the HOLY Network
IPP Positive Parenting Forum – Q&A Session
Links, Details and Contact Information
Mr Garfield Leslie Higgins: Senior advisor to the Minister of Education, Youth and Information
Sadly Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid was tied up with ministerial duties, so his void was ably filled by his senior advisor. Mr Higgins got the ball rolling for the day with some acknowledgements and introductions, read out a message from the minister and emphasised the need to continually practise at good parenting, as well as pointing out some 10 basic principles of responsible parenting.
Ministry of Education, Youth & Information
2 Alice Eldemire Dr, Montego Bay, Jamaica
+1 876-953-6929
www.moe.gov.jm
Parenting Skit: performed by the Bashy Bush Kru, from Children First
Children First’s “Bashy Bus Kru” entertained the audience with a lively Parenting Reality skit, concluding that we all have a responsibility to take care of Jamaica’s children.
Children First Agency [Head Office]
9 Monk Street
Spanish Town
St. Catherine
Jamaica, WI
Phone: +(876) 984-0367
Telefax: +(876) 984-2839
Email: kidzter@gmail.com or kidz@cwjamaica.com
childrenfirst.org.jm/html/
Dr Patrece Charles-Freeman: Executive Director of the National Parenting Support Commission
Other public and voluntary sector professionals who participated in the Forum were Mrs Claudette Pious, of Children First who moderated the rap session and Dr Patrece Charles-Freeman, Executive Director of the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC). She said “effective parenting doesn’t cost money, it just costs a little time” and called on parents to utilize effective methods in their day to day parenting.
National Parenting Support Commission
Transforming Families through: Communication, Advocacy, Research, Education, Support
www.moe.gov.jm
Ms Marsha Baker: Senior Legal Policy Officer at the Office of the Children’s Advocate
Ms Marsha Baker, Senior Legal Policy Officer at the Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA) pointed out that legal representation is available for offenders and victims alike and the community has a duty to report abuse.
Office of the Children’s Advocate
Air Jamaica Building,
Ground Floor,
72 Harbour Street,
Kingston
Telephone : 948-1293 or 948-1469
Toll free: 1-888-948-1134
Fax: 922-6785
Email: info@oca.gov.jm
Website: www.oca.gov.jm
Dr Kim Scott: Programme Director of The Child Resiliency Programme, a Violence Prevention Alliance Project
Dr Kim Scott, Programme Director of The Child Resiliency Programme, a Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) Project, thinks parenting is a public health issue facing Jamaica. Dr Scott was addressing hundreds of parents, community & youth leaders who turned out to a public forum on Positive Parenting, hosted by the International Proxy Parents (IPP) at the UWI to celebrate Child Month.
According to Dr Scott, under the UN Charter of Rights, parents and children have rights and responsibilities. Therefore parenting skills must be learned and Jamaican parents must look at those areas of parenting that they need to improve on. Even parents who lose custody of their children, must continue to be involved in their children’s lives as they still retain all rights and responsibilities as a parent. Dr Scott runs an after school programme for children ages 8-12 who are at risk of behavioural or emotional problems, or are displaying high risk behaviours such as reading below grade level, cigarette, drug or alcohol use, delinquency, excessive fighting, violence, inappropriate sexual behaviour or have suffered sexual, physical, emotional abuse or neglect.
For more information visit their website
www.childresiliency.org/
or contact Dr. Scott at 876-631-0352
or email us at childresiliency@gmail.com
Mrs Rosalie Gage-Grey: Child Development Agency
Mrs Rosalie Gage-Grey of the Child Development Agency (CDA) warned that parents need to safeguard their children from abuse as 10 in every 1000 children in Jamaica are abused and the majority are girls. Also 6 in every 1000 children now reside in State care.
Child Development Agency
Protecting Children, Transforming Lives, Securing the Future
Corporate Office:
48 Duke Street.
Kingston
Tel:
948-6678
948-2841-2
Mr Smith: Registrar of the Office of the Children’s Registry
Reporting Child Abuse
Mr Greig Smith, Registrar of the Office of the Children’s Registry (OCR) explained the Ananda alert system and urged persons to confidentially report child abuse using the OCR Hotline.
For more information please visit their website:
www.ocr.gov.jm
Individuals who wish to make a report to the Children’s Registry may call the following numbers:
Toll Free:
1-888- PROTECT (776-8328) (LIME)
Tel:
908-2132 (LIME)
754-9133 (LIME)
908-2143 (LIME)
618-5888 (Digicel Landline)
631-8933 (Flow)
631-8908 (Flow)
Rev James Bell: HOLY Project
Understanding our Boys
“Many problems arise from poor parenting, lack of opportunity and not enough male mentors to show the way” said Rev. James Bell who runs a Project for street boys in downtown Kingston. He found that many crimes are committed by young males who are illiterate and with no hope for the future. After teaching the boys to read and employing them as apprentices in his downtown Kingston Printery, he has seen significant improvement in their behaviour.
Rev. James Bell
Founder of the HOLY Network
Healthy Ones Lifestyle Youth
The HOLY Network, a Global Fund for Children grantee partner in Jamaica, provides computer literacy classes, wilderness camps, life skills education, and vocational training to at-risk youth in downtown Kingston. The HOLY Network participates in the Adobe Youth Voices program.
Q&A session
Mrs Claudette Pious oversaw the opening of the floor as members of the audience were allowed to pose their questions to the panel of guests