Information on our operations, history, and services offered.

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Our Vision

 

The Child Development Agency aims to be an extraordinary agency, providing an atmosphere within which transformation of our children, family and team members occur, allowing them to reach their full potential in a safe and nurturing environment.

 

Our Mission

  Our mission is to provide care and protection beyond limits to our nation's children through love, advocacy, education, rehabilitation and family support because we are committed to valuing our children, their families and our team members.
 

Executive

 

CEO's Message

Learn more about the team behind the Child Development Agency

 

Games

 

 
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
 

VALUE STATEMENT

We pledge to demonstrate…

Respect for our clients (children and their families):
•    The best interests principle will always be applied.
•    We are accountable to deliver the best and most effective service.
•    We welcome the views and participation of our clients at all time.
•    When a child leaves us he/she will be in a better position than when she/he came.
•    We commit to meeting our turnaround time all the time.
•    We promote an environment of trust and confidence.
•    We provide a network of services and access points island-wide.

Respect for people:
•    We treat children, citizens, staff and partners with fairness, honesty and equity.
•    We support a healthy balance between work and personal life.
•    We strive to work in a sincere, considerate and caring manner.

Respect for our staff:
•    We recognize that the quality, motivation and performance of our employees are the key factors in achieving our success.
•    We treat our staff with respect and honesty.
•    We support a healthy balance between work and personal life.
•    We strive to work in a sincere, considerate and caring manner.
•    We are committed to diversity, equal opportunity and fair treatment.
•    We believe in promotion based on merit, and promotion from within whenever possible
•    We want our organizational structure and culture to promote employee involvement, open communication, teamwork and cooperation.

WE ARE DEDICATED TO…

Customer service:
•    We provide high quality, courteous and responsive service.

Accountability:
•    We are accountable to our community for the efficient, responsible and ethical management of public and donor funds.
•    We are accountable for the delivery of results.
•    We provide accessible and honest information.
•    We carry out our work in a fair and transparent manner.
•    Integrity, professionalism, ethics and honesty are required behaviours
•    We promote quality assurance in all our work processes.
•    Data Integrity and reliability is key to our success.
•    We are available at all times.

Collaboration:
•    We work in collaboration with clients and stakeholders
•    We value teamwork to maintain high performance.
 

© Child Development Agency 2005 | Legal | Feedback | Careers
48 Duke Street, Kingston, Jamaica
Tel.: 876.948.7206 / 876.948.7067 Fax: 876.924.9401
info@cda.gov.jm

 

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