Page 5367 - Week 17 - Thursday, 13 December 1990
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5 ACTION ALREADY TAKEN WAS FORESHADOWER IN A POLICY PAPER ON FAMILY SUPPORT AND SUBSTITUTE CARE SERVICES IN THE A.C.T WHICH WAS RELEASED BY MY OFFICE IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. THIS PAPER FO=SzSED ON THE NEED FOR A RANGE OF OPTIONS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE A.C.T AND A NUMBER OF INTER-ZAL BRANCH INITIATIVES TO ENSURE A HIGH QUALITY OF SERVICE DELIVERY.
THE NEW POLICY DIRECTION OUTLINED IN THAT PAPER RECOGNISED THAT FAMILIES ARE GENERALLY THE BEST MEANS OF PROVIDING CARE, PROTECTION AND SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN. IT ALSO RECCG1111SED THAT PARE-:TS HAVE AN OBLIGATION AND PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN, AND HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROVIDE THIS CARE.
WORK WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IS NOW FOCUSSING ON FAMILY SUPPORT. THIS MIRRORS THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD WHICH CONSIDERS THAT THE FAMILY, AS THE FUNDAMENTAL GROUP OF SOCIETY AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FOR THE GROWTH AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN, SHOULD BE AFFORDED THE NECESSARY ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION SO THAT IT CAN ASSUME ITS RESPONSIBILITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
WHERE IT IS CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO REMOVE A CHILD FROM ITS PARENTS, THE EMPHASIS WILL BE TO ENSURE THAT CONTACT BETWEEN THE CHILD, ITS FAMILY, FRIENDS AND SCHOOL CONTINUES AND THAT THE FA14ILY RETAINS THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CHILD.
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