Mandatory counselling urged for parents

by Tahna Weston
Tahna.weston@antiguaobserver.com

Director of the Family and Social Services Division Feona Charles-Richards is calling for parents to be legally required to attend counselling when their children become involved with social services.
Charles-Richards said parents often fail to attend counselling even when their children are involved with probation, childcare and protection services or the Domestic Violence Referral Centre.
She said the proposed legislative change is intended to ensure parents participate in counselling when it is needed.
“The only thing that we wanted to add to our current legislation is mandating the parents to attend because unless they’re mandated, they’re not showing up. They’re not showing up for the counseling. Counselling is free. They’re not showing up,” she told a National Child Protection Town Hall on Tuesday, 25 August, hosted by the Ministry of Social and Urban Transformation.
Charles-Richards also highlighted what she described as gaps in coordination between the Family and Social Services Division and the justice system.
She said discussions are being sought with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), magistrates, the Attorney General’s Office and Crown Counsel to determine how those gaps can be addressed.
Charles-Richards said responsibility cannot rest solely with her division because different agencies have different roles within the system.
She wants those responsibilities to be clearly understood so cases can move through the appropriate channels, instead of relying on individual officials to make calls to secure action.
The director also placed some responsibility on parents and the wider community, questioning what they are doing to support children and connect them with available services.
She said some parents are quick to blame the authorities but do not always participate in programmes or help connect children with available services.
“But our parents, I blame some of you because some of you are not showing up either. Y’all not showing up either. And, you know, nobody bringing along the next person. So even though you know of a programme or whatever the case is, you’re not saying, ‘Hey, let’s try this.’ Social Protection Board exists,” Charles-Richards said.
The director also questioned whether enough is being done by community organisations to keep young people engaged.
She pointed to the lack of consistent youth programmes in some churches and other institutions, while noting that some organisations have established initiatives aimed at young people.
Charles-Richards further criticised what she sees as a tendency to judge children by their behaviour without considering possible underlying challenges.
She said children may have conditions such as ADHD, autism or dyslexia, while some may also be dealing with abuse that affects their behaviour.
Charles-Richards said the focus should be on understanding those circumstances and ensuring children receive appropriate support.
She also warned that providing an initial intervention is not enough if proper follow-up does not take place.
Charles-Richards said some children require counselling, assessments and psychiatric care, adding that officers have sometimes personally contributed money towards psychiatric services.
She said some cases reach her division only after they have escalated to the point where a child may need to be removed or someone arrested.
Charles-Richards is therefore urging agencies and community members to ensure cases are referred through the proper channels early, so intervention can take place before situations become more serious.