CLARENDON, Jamaica – The Child Development Agency (CDA), in partnership with First Heritage Credit Union, recently held a workshop in one of the Clarendon communities identified by child advocates as a hotspot for child abuse.

The workshop was one of eight organised by both entities under the theme, “Parenting for the Nation’s Sake”.

Some 54 parents in the community of Kilsyth were exposed to topics such as the growth and development of children; child abuse and the penalties; better parenting; and budgeting and financial planning.

Representing Member of Parliament Richard Azan, Bridgette Daley-Dixon, constituency secretary, said: “North West Clarendon is not immune to some of the issues affecting children in Jamaica, and therefore we welcome the effort.”

Daley-Dixon encouraged parents to protect their children with love, noting that when children were not loved they tended to seek love in the wrong places.

In her welcome, team leader for CDA’s Clarendon office Francine Rhoomes lauded the parents for taking the time to learn about better parenting, explaining that the workshop was carefully tailored to help parents sharpen their parenting skills.

She urged them to take the message back to their friends and families.

FHC Branch Supervisor Ervin Ennis noted that everyone had to work together to ensure that the nation’s children were protected.

He said that FHC was committed to the cause and would continue to offer financial support to assist the CDA in carrying out its mandate.

Meanwhile, CDA’s social worker Antonette Brooks-Blake told the parents that trust between parents and children was important at all stages of the child’s development.

Parents were exposed to the six different types of child abuse: sexual, physical and emotional abuse, neglect, child labour, and child trafficking. They were also urged to make a report to the Office of the Children’s Registry if they knew or suspected that a child was experiencing any of these abuses.

One parent, Petra Allen, said what stood out for her was the importance of trust between her and her child.

“This is the most training I have received since becoming a mother and it has opened my eyes to being a better parent to my child,” she said.