Commissioner responsible for Youth Affairs Maria Buncamper-Molanus met last week with representatives of the Foundation Judiciary Institutes Windward Islands, Mr. Gregory Thomson the Director and Mrs. Cynthia van Samson-Filemon. The foundation is responsible for guardianship and Foster Care of Children on the Windward Islands. As part of the security plan NA the "Foster Families Center Project" is funded by USONA. The Goal of the Foster Families Central project is to increase the availability of foster families on Sint Maarten.
The Commissioner of Youth Affairs was given an overview of the activities which this organization is currently carrying out in the area of foster care and the assessment that is currently being done in order to improve this type of care within our community. In this context the upcoming Regional Foster Care Conference which will be held here on Sint Maarten from April 22nd to April 24th, 2009 at the Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort was discussed.
"The conference comes at an opportune moment," say Commissioner Buncamper, who took over the portfolio of youth affairs recently. "It gives us as opportunity to work together on this delicate issue and combine the efforts being made by the Island Government with respect to foster care and children’s homes," she added Also present was Senior Policy Officer and Coordinator of Youth Affairs Mrs. Shermina Powell Richardson.
The conference theme is "A family for every Child." All stakeholders are encouraged to register.