Gathering Held To Discuss Children’s Agenda

More than 80 people gathered on Thursday [Nov 20] to discuss the Children’s Agenda of Priorities set out by the Inter Agency Committee for Children and Families [IAC].

Minister Wayne Scott, Shadow Education Minister Lovita Foggo, key stakeholders, member of the Bermuda Police Service and concerned residents came together to develop ways to help Bermuda’s young people.

The Children’s Agenda of Priorities aims to highlight the needs of Bermuda’s children and Thursday’s gathering aimed to bring forth solutions to some of the challenges identified.

Grassroots stakeholders worked together to help to produce the Agenda, which comprises more than two years of statistical analysis, interviews and focus groups.

IAC chair Martha Dismont highlighted that the meeting was being held on the United Nations’ Universal Day of the Child. “The IAC is an association of social service providers who are very dedicated to collaboration, dedicated to advocacy for children and families,” she said. “We’re passionate about setting up continuing care.”

The IAC’s research identified the top three issues plaguing families and youth in Bermuda: third, the lack of a sufficient education; second, a lack of basic life skills; with the number one issue being unhealthy relationships due to multi-generational, unaddressed trauma.

A number of challenges were identified by the IAC and have been grouped into three key areas — survival rights, protection rights, and development and participation rights.

Ten critical priorities spanning all three sectors have been set out, and these were discussed by the community members present at the meeting.

The priorities are:

Survival rights:

• Bermudian children and families live healthy lifestyles within the context of healthy social norms
• Bermudian families have options that can afford them an adequate lifestyle and a sufficient social safety net

Protection rights;

• Bermudian children and families feel secure and safe across all spheres of the life of the child [school, home, community]
• Bermudian children have access to the support necessary to recover and build resiliency from trauma
• Bermudian children and families live in a nurturing and restorative culture

Development and Participation rights

• Bermudian children and families have the education and skills necessary to secure a job that allows them to earn a living wage
• Bermudian children fulfill their greatest potential [with creativity and following one’s passion]
• Bermudian parents have positive parenting tools and techniques that prepare and encourage children
• Bermudian families have fair and equitable opportunities, and that historical, political and institutional barriers inhibiting equality are constructively mitigated and prevented from reoccurring
• The Bermudian community is empowered and participates in key decisions.

“Your mission today is to help us action what needs to take place to reverse these trends,” Mrs Dismont told the meeting. “It may not happen overnight but it must happen. Our children and families are depending on us.”

Mr Scott told the meeting that helping Bermuda’s children meant the community had to work together. “It’s a community issue that we all must address,” he said. “A community-wide effort is needed to build a better future for our children. “The Children’s Agenda and IAC are very important.

I truly believe we can fix all of these problems, we need to effectively use our resources. “The purpose of this meeting is getting everybody to come together. I look forward to seeing what those recommendations are.”

Each priority on the Agenda was assigned its own table at the meeting, with participants urged to visit three tables that carried the most interest for them. Discussions at each table lasted twenty minutes, and each table had a facilitator to guide discussion and note down the solutions suggested.

Recommendations suggested included addressing the high cost of health care; the need for better access to affordable housing and food; a detailed study on child abuse; addressing multi-generational trauma; and reviewing the age of criminal responsibility.

The discussions are being kept confidential for now, but the IAC said thet will outline the solutions brought forth once all the information has been assessed.

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