Recognise and support informal guardians

THE EDITOR, Madam:

As we are just days after celebrating Foster Care Week here in Jamaica, I wish to draw attention to a pressing issue concerning the informal placement of children by guardians outside the official foster care system.

Across many countries, including Jamaica, families and communities often step in to care for children without formal legal recognition. This practice, known as kinship or informal guardianship, is prevalent due to socio-economic challenges and cultural norms.

In Jamaica, similar to other jurisdictions, these informal arrangements present significant challenges. Guardians frequently struggle to access essential services, such as healthcare, education, and social support because their status is not legally recognised. While insurance companies in Jamaica have expressed willingness to support children in kinship care, their policies are predominantly based on government regulations, particularly for public sector workers, making formal legal recognition crucial for broader coverage and consistent support.

Many countries, such as the United States, South Africa, and parts of Canada, have made progress by enacting laws that recognise kinship care and provide guardians with legal rights and access to social services. Jamaica, too, must consider and adopt policies that formalise these arrangements, ensuring children’s rights are protected and that guardians can access necessary services without undue barriers.

It is vital that policymakers, social services, and the insurance sector work collaboratively to develop frameworks that recognise informal guardianship and facilitate access to healthcare, education, and social benefits. Such measures will help safeguard the well-being of vulnerable children and strengthen community-based care.

The government should prioritise this matter during Foster Care Week and beyond, creating inclusive policies that recognise all forms of child care arrangements and support the guardians who provide essential care in our communities.

PETA GAY WAUGH