Dept partners with Catholic home centres

Two Catholic home centres in the Highlands region have entered into a partnership with the Department of Community Development and Religion.

The centres, under the diocese of Mendi and archdiocese of Mount Hagen, yesterday (April 23) received licences recognising them as the state’s partner to care for vulnerable children.  

These licences are the first to be issued under “Out of Home Care”, the newest provision included in the Lukautim Pikinini Act (LPA).

It allows for the licenced care centre to remove any child in danger from within the community, provide a temporary shelter and eventually return them to a permanent home.

Most of these vulnerable children are either living with a disability, come from a broken home or have lost their parents to HIV/AIDs, sorcery-related killings, etc.

The two care centres each have about 15 children at the moment. But the bigger challenge is finding everyone a home.

Partnering with the department, through the child and family welfare services, should fast track the process of giving these children a normal life.

This is a significant step in child care for PNG and the state-church partnership.

Secretary Anna Solomon committed K30 thousand each to the care centres and said this was the beginning.

Over the year, social workers will be visiting the care centres and the children.

Solomon is calling on more church services to come forward and offer their support where the government falls short, not only in health and education, but areas like child protection.

Author: 
Gloria Bauai