Cabinet Says Foster Care Cases Rising as Younger Parents Struggle

The Antigua and Barbuda government says increasing numbers of children are being placed in foster care as social services grapple with rising abuse, neglect and family support challenges.

During Thursday’s post-Cabinet briefing, Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant revealed that Cabinet had been presented with troubling statistics showing more than 50 weekly interventions involving abused or neglected children.

Merchant said the figures were presented by the Ministry of Social and Urban Transformation during discussions surrounding the establishment of a new National Safe Haven for women and children.

“The minister also reported that there has been an increase in the number of children who are in foster care,” Merchant said.

According to Merchant, Cabinet was told that one contributing factor is that some parents are becoming younger and are not fully prepared for the responsibilities of raising children.

He also said officials are seeing situations where women are raising several children on their own, leading in some cases to neglect and other social difficulties.

“The weekly reports are cause for serious concern by the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda,” Merchant said.

The concerns prompted Cabinet to approve an immediate EC$500,000 contribution toward the development of a National Safe Haven aimed at protecting vulnerable women and children while providing counselling, trauma care and reintegration support.

Merchant said the facility will be located in the vicinity of the Boys’ Training School and will operate under the joint leadership of the Family and Social Services Division and the Directorate of Gender Affairs.

Officials said the initiative is intended to provide both emergency protection and longer-term support for individuals affected by abuse and neglect.