NEW PROGRAMME INTRODUCED - The Hon. Melanie Griffin, Minister of Social Services and Community Development and Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, were on hand for the official launch of RISE, an initiative of the Department of Social Services. The launch took place on Monday at the Eight Mile Rock School Gymnasium. Shown are Minister Griffin, Minister Darville and Rev. Peter Pinder, president of the Grand Bahama Christian Council, during the event. (BIS Photo/Vandyke Hepburn)

EIGHT MILE ROCK, Grand Bahama - During a community meeting on Monday evening, Minister of Social Services and Community Development, the Hon. Melanie Griffin, officially launched the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, also known as RISE, at the Eight Mile Rock High Gymnasium.

Stressing the slogan "Together We RISE", Minister Griffin added there are people in the system who have been Social Service benefits for many years, and the new programme is a way of reversing the cycle. RISE (Renewing, Inspiring, Sustaining, Empowering) Programme has been launched in New Providence and North Andros already.

YOUNG AND OLD were present on Monday for the official launch of the Ministry of Social Services and Community Development's RISE Programme by the Minister, the Hon. Melanie Griffin. Also on hand was the Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville. The event was held in Eight Mile Rock at the Eight Mile Rock School Gymnasium. (BIS Photo/Vandyke Hepburn)

She said in 2004, following a study of the country's safety net by the Inter-American Development Bank, dialogue on the need for reform began. In 2012, the government entered into an agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank for the implementation of social safety net reform in The Bahamas.

The reform includes: strengthening the institutional capacity of the Department of Social Services; installation of a state-of-the-art Management Information System to ensure the smooth processing of requests from registration to payment; improved targeting through a Proxy Means Test (the Proxy Means Test is an instrument that ensures those in need are objectively assessed); and a new payment delivery system for approved beneficiaries.

Those on the Social Services food assistance programme in Eight Mile Rock are already in possession of the Bank of the Bahamas Debit Card, the first phase of the reform.

"Ultimately this reform of the delivery of service to qualified families will ensure that as an agency we are more responsive, efficient and effective in meeting the needs of the most vulnerable. Hence, with the introduction of RISE several existing assistance programmes, inclusive of our major food and uniform assistance programmes will be consolidated."

RISE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED - Minister of Social Services and Community Development, the Hon. Melanie Griffin, on Monday evening officially launched RISE at the Eight Mile Rock School Gymnasium. Also in attendance was Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville. (BIS Photo/Vandyke Hepburn)

The Minister continued, "Our objective to help families improve levels of health and education can only be achieved through partnership." The Department of Social Services has partnered with the Ministries of Health and Education, the Department of Information Technology, Department of Statistics and The Bank of The Bahamas.

As beneficiaries of the food assistance programme, she added, they are now required to go through the Proxy Mean Test, and once determined they are eligible for RISE, they will then be enrolled.

Minister Griffin urged the residents to participate in the registration process of the new programme and "work toward breaking the cycle of poverty in our families. We cannot do this alone, together we RISE!"

Minister for Grand Bahama, Dr. the Hon. Michael Darville, was also present for the launch and welcomed the programme designed to reduce poverty.

As a part of RISE, participants must ensure school-aged children attend 90 percent of class time, and if their GPA falls below a 2.0, tutoring sessions; receive the required health checks; attend parent craft and nutrition classes as required; if pregnant, attend prescribed clinics during pregnancy and be open to home visits from Lifestyle Coaches.

Remarks by Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin are attached below:

Click to download the attached file(s):
• Remarks_by_the_Hon_Minister_at_RISE_Community_Meeting_GB.doc

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