Arianne Navarre-Marie Launches the Special Committee on the Care of Children with Behavioral Issues

Arianne Navarre-Marie, the Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, chaired the first working meeting on Tuesday with members of the newly established Special Committee formed by the Cabinet. This initiative marks a decisive step in the government's commitment to improving the care of children with serious behavioral concerns (Children with Serious Behavioural Concerns - CSBC) placed in institutions.

This information was released in a statement by the ministry on Thursday.

The Special Committee has been officially established under the presidency of magistrate Shefali Ganoo-Arekion. It consists of two assessors: Ms. Kate Ah Nien-Kotadoo, Coordinator at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, and Mr. Vincent Mandrou, a psychologist with extensive experience working with special needs children.

The Special Committee has been entrusted with four essential mandates:

1. Evaluate existing institutional mechanisms, including the operation of care structures, the profile of affected children, placement procedures under the Probation of Offenders Act and the Reform Institutions Act, available human resources, as well as rehabilitation and reintegration programs.

2. Review the current legislative framework, including the Children's Act 2020, the Probation of Offenders Act, the Reform Institutions Act, and associated regulations, to determine if they adequately meet the protection and care needs of children with serious behavioral issues.

3. Formulate concrete recommendations based on its findings, including specific legislative amendments and appropriate intervention pathways as well as suitable infrastructures for CSBC.

4. Guide public policies by proposing future directions to improve service delivery for children with behavioral issues and those with psychiatric problems.

In the coming days, the Committee will visit existing facilities and reception centers that currently house these children. This fieldwork will provide Committee members with a concrete and comprehensive view of the current situation.

"This first meeting demonstrates our determination to place the well-being and protection of our children at the heart of our priorities," emphasized Minister Arianne Navarre-Marie. "We are committed to establishing a care system that is both humane and effective, tailored to the specific needs of each child. The work of this Committee will be a cornerstone in the reform of our child protection system."

The ministry is committed to working closely with the Special Committee to ensure that the recommendations arising from its work translate into concrete and sustainable actions for the benefit of the most vulnerable children in our society.