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The Convention on the Rights of the Child (ratified by Guyana in 1991) clearly states that the institution will act as the last resort of care for vulnerable children when all other options have been exhausted. However, finding and strengthening alternatives to institutional care, such as adequate community-based care or formalised foster care have not yet been given sufficient attention and there is presently a lack of such alternatives in Guyana. Once a child is orphaned or without caregivers, it is up to the State to take responsibility for the child by ensuring the most adequate…
The original terms of reference envisaged the preparation of Standards for the operation of Children’s Homes and the provision of foster care regulations. However the Initial Assessment carried out in April 2006 found that Guyana in common with many other Commonwealth countries was struggling to meet the present care and protection problems facing children because of outdated legislation and social work practice that was relying on residential care and had no history of community placements. The Initial Assessment recommended that improvements were needed to the social work systems and…