Governor hosts Child Month celebration
(L-R) DCFS Director Felicia Robinson, Governor Helen Kilpatrick and Chief Officer Dorine Whittaker at Child Month reception
(CNS Local Life): Governor Helen Kilpatrick recently held a reception in honour of Child Month and to thank the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), partner agencies and members of the community for planning and promoting activities to celebrate the observance throughout May. Attendees at the 17 May event included representatives from the Department of Youth, Feed Our Future, Meals on Wheels, the CAYS Foundation, RCIPS, Hedge Funds Care, and Cayman Islands Baptist Church in Savannah, which hosted the service to open Child Month.
Speaking to those gathered, the governor highlighted the importance of Child Month for raising awareness of child-safeguarding issues in the Cayman Islands. She noted the recent progress in advancing child welfare locally and commended the government for building on earlier successes.
DCFS Director Felicia Robinson spoke of her department’s mandate to protect and promote the rights and well-being of children. She discussed their particular needs, outlining the duty of care society has in safeguarding young people. Robinson referenced her department’s work in child advocacy, care and promotion. She informed attendees that teenagers were the focus of this year’s observance and spoke about the particular issues of relevance to this group.
In thanking Kilpatrick for hosting the reception, Dorine Whittaker, Chief Officer for the Ministry of Youth, mentioned the wider impact of events such as the opening church service and this year’s Teen Panel discussion at which children played central roles. Thanking DCFS staff for their work organising the Child Month schedule, Whittaker noted the inclusion of families in the programming. In particular, she commended the “Tech-Free Fridays” promotion, which seeks to enhance family bonding.
Category: Youth
