National children’s policy needs a ‘holistic plan’ - PL

Labour's spokesman for the family Justyne Caruana said the national children's policy needs a holistic plan which addresses the various problems and issues children are faced with, including those who are at risk of living below the poverty line.

A report conducted by the Foster Parents Association revealed the need for more public education and knowledge on the work it carries out, as called for by the foster families.

Research and experience show fostering leave much better results than child institutions, where children are brought up in a "normal family environment". 

In 2010 there were 11 babies with drug withdrawal symptoms.

Caruana said children might suffer of problems caused by their birth parents: "There are babies suffering from symptoms related to drug use, because their parents abused of drugs."

"Many of these children need the help of professionals. Even though government is offering the services, the waiting lists are long leading foster parents to resort to private services which they pay themselves."

She acknowledged the increase in allowance for foster parents, but added it was not enough. "The Association feels government is not recognising the work foster families are doing. It also believes foster families should have more rights to carry out their work," Caruana said.

She added government had no vision and was not recognising the importance of investing in social sectors, which would eventually give back to society.

"According to the International Federation for Family Development, Malta invests only 0.8% its gross domestic product in policies to safeguard children," Caruana said, adding the rate of children in risk of poverty is around 21%.

"Each economic policy must have children at its core, giving them the best quality of life. While it is positive government launched the national children's policy, government should stop announcing halfhearted measures that are not addressing the real problems."

Caruana said the national children's policy should be implemented holistically - "a plan which government doesn't have".