Government Officials, members and volunteers from the Methodist Church, students and other invited guests pose in front of one of the buildings that will house eight at risk children before the Service for the Dedication of the Land and Buildings of the Zion Children’s Home on Current Island, North Eleuthera, Friday, March 4, 2011. (BIS photo/Llonella Gilbert)

Nassau, Bahamas - Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Development the Hon Loretta Butler-Turner commended The Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church (BCMC) for working with the Government in establishing a cottage-style residence for children.

During the Service for the Dedication of the Land and Buildings of the Zion Children’s Home Construction Project on Current Island, Eleuthera on Friday, March 4, Mrs Butler-Turner explained that the home will be for at risk children, affording them “wonderful opportunities for positive growth and development”.

“The justification for the Zion’s Children’s Home is unfortunately evidenced by the growing number of children currently under the protection of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development,” she said. “Currently in New Providence, Grand Bahama and Cat Island there are over 200 children in care.

“It is the role of the Government, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Development to ensure the supervision, safety, wellbeing and development for any child found in need of care,” Mrs Butler-Turner added.

This responsibility is found in the 2004 Residential Care Establishment Act and the 2007 Child Protection Act, she noted.

Students of Current Island Primary School welcome guests to the Service for the Dedication of the Land and Buildings of the Zion Children’s Home on Current Island, North Eleuthera, Friday, March 4, 2011. (BIS photo/Llonella Gilbert)

“No person or organisation is allowed to just take in children and care for them without being registered with the Ministry.

“Additionally, the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, a United Nations document, is the world’s most widely accepted human rights treaty, which binds The Bahamas,” Mrs Butler-Turner said.

It establishes a wide range of protection provisions and participating rights for children and creates mechanisms for reporting and accountability for participating countries, she explained.

The removal of a child from the care of its family should be seen as a measure of last resort and for the shortest possible period, Mrs Butler-Turner stressed.

Guests inspect one of the buildings that will house eight at risk children before the Service for the Dedication of the Land and Buildings of the Zion Children’s Home on Current Island, North Eleuthera, Friday, March 4, 2011. (BIS photo/Llonella Gilbert)

“Financial and material poverty alone or conditions directly linked to such poverty alone should never be a justification for removing a child from parental care or preventing his/her re-integration with the family, but must be seen as an opportunity to provide appropriate support to the family.”

She said no matter how good a residential care facility might be; family-based care is the preferred placement option for children who are unable to remain in their own homes.

“While I have no doubt that the Eleuthera community will support this home, we need to increase the supply of foster homes in Eleuthera and other Family Islands.”

Mrs Butler-Turner said the size of the multi-cottage facilities will minimise the physical and social separation children feel away from their own home.

She also noted that the partnership between the BCMC and Government in respect to residential care facilities is long standing.

The several successful partnerships between the Department of Social Services and the BCMC in respect to residential care facilities is long standing and includes the Bilney Lane Children’s Home and the Naomi Christie Centre for Older Persons.

President of the BCMC, Rev Bill Higgs said the church will run the home but Social Services will choose the children that will stay in the home.

Eventually there will be eight houses built with eight children in each of the homes, Rev Higgs explained.