The Child Development Agency became an Executive Agency on June 1, 2004 and is a merger of the Children Services Division, the Adoption Board and the Child Support Unit. It is headed by a Chief Executive Officer.

The CDA integrates the functions of the three entities in order to provide comprehensive delivery of services to children and their parents (our clients). The Agency has statutory responsibility for children who are in need of care and protection i.e. those abused, neglected or abandoned as well as for children who are experiencing behavioural problems.

As part of its emphasis on promoting children’s rights, the CDA monitors the adoption of international child care conventions locally and aims at developing and promoting its position on children’s issues internationally.

The CDA is:

Client centred
Family focused
Performance driven
Measurement driven

Child Protection Services Offered

      Intake - Point of contact with clients

      Investigation - Information gathering process

      Counselling - Organized by caseworker to improve behaviour

      Case Planning - process of identifying risk

      Case Management - Procedure to seek and monitor services

Main Programmes offered

      Residential Care - Providing for children in need of care and protection in a residential institution

      Living in Family Environment (LIFE):

         Foster Care - The act of rearing a child who is not one's biological or

          adopted child.                         
         Family Reintegration - Returning and rehabilitation of child with biological   

         family after a period in state care.
         Adoption - Transferring of parental rights from biological parents.

      Supervision Order - Court orders child to be placed with family member and is supervised by Children's Officer.

      Children's Court - make decision for protection and well being of children

          from birth to 18 years.

Objectives

      To safeguard children from becoming at risk through advocacy of child

            rights and the development of public awareness of children I issues.

      To provide necessary and appropriate interventions for children who have   

           been identified as at risk from neglect, abuse, trauma, disability or any

           other factor.

      To ensure safety, security, growth and development of children and young

           people in the care of the state.

      To achieve the vision the Agency will ensure that actions of employees are based on a set of values and principles that support the overall goal of the organization.

 

 

Principles

The Child Development Agency is committed to the provision of quality service to all its clients and in conducting its operations.  The principles it upholds are:

 

      Maintaining the highest possible levels of transparency and accountability;

      Provide a working environment for staff that enhances job satisfaction,    

      development and well being;

      Discharge its functions with due regard to efficiency and economy and the

          strategic objectives and performance targets, which it sets;

      Be responsive to clients’ needs, values and diversity