I rise in support of the Children and Young Persons (Amendment) Bill or the CYPA Bill. This is an important bill because it sets the framework and parameters to better provide for the welfare, care, protection and rehabilitation of children and young persons or CYPs at risk in our midst.

I draw my suggestions from my co-labourers and my experience serving the CYPs in my constituency, district and in the special needs sector

I have 3 areas for the Ministry to consider further strengthening in order to reap better outcomes. First, to strengthen the co-ordination and integration of care for the CYPs. Second, to strengthen the voice of the CYPs. Third, to strengthen the foster parents scheme.

STRENGTHEN CO-ORDINATION AND INTEGRATION OF CARE.

Despite the immense many efforts by volunteers and agency staff, I found the outcomes for the CYPs at risk are often still less than ideal. It is definitely not for lack of heart and hands because I know how much each volunteer and staff cares and puts in.

These partners on the ground have told me the following needs that if better addressed, would surely improve the life outcomes for the CYPs they are for. These needs are:

a. The need for a safe environment where they feel secure; where children can learn and even rest without constant heightened fear, anxiety and disruption. Such an environment can be found in both mainstream and special schools; and much depends on the kindness of the adults in charge. In the mainstream First ToaPayoh Primary School, there is a HOME @ SCHOOL programme to provide such an environment. In the special school Pathlight where I volunteer, the OHANA after-school programme offers such a safe setting;

b. The need for constant and familiar adult supervision which can come in the form of teachers, youth workers, social workers or foster parents. One of the key challenges to track and address, for instance, is the turnover of such adult supervisors in the lives of the CYPs, causing further disruptions ;

c. The need for better and constant access to needed community and healthcare including mental health care services;

d. And most of all, the need for an integrated ‘turnkey’ solution properly co-ordinated by an appointed lead case manager – a solution integrator of sorts that all relevant parties helping CYPs can turn to. In many instances, the different help agencies and staff hardly meet physically nor update and communicate with each other till something happens in the life of the CYP. Each of them working within their own scope and doing their best - youth worker taking care of the young; drug counsellor taking care of a parent; social service officers delivering financial assistance.

Without an appointed solution integrator to deliver more effective case management, I have seen children and young people spiraling downwards.

One young boy I know has already turned to smoking and dating at Primary 6 after losing both parents.

Another young girl I know whose mother is in remand for drug offences became worse off when there was no hand-shake between her counsellers as she transited from primary to secondary school.

One student with special needs I know is facing transition challenges as he prepares to leave school and as his foster mother ages and having cancer. Parties involved are not confident enough that the transition will be smooth enough.

Hence, the need to invest more resources to MSF to strengthen the co-ordination and integration of care.

STRENGTHENING THE VOICE OF THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS

Speaker, I have mixed feelings as I go through the Bill. On one hand, it is a comprehensive one covering many needed gaps. On the other hand, I cannot help but feel that in our efforts to protect the child, if we are seeing things through the lenses of the adult and not enough of the children and young persons.

How do we incorporate the voice of the children and the young persons whose lives we attempt to shape for the better? In matters that impact them such as the change of school; admission into children’s homes or foster homes; in identifying their adult supervisors, are there measures installed to take into account the feelings and preference of these young persons?

How can the long and onerous process of gathering evidence, determination and implementation of court orders for children caught in parent disputes be improved so that their feelings are considered?

In the new section 68A, for instance, that authorizes the use of ‘mechanical restraint’ such as handcuffs or leg braces on a child or young person, how do we ensure the least damage occurs?

Are affected children and young people involved in the numerous decisions made for them in this Bill?

I therefore seek clarification from the Ministry on how the voice of the CYPs can be sought and strengthened in this Bill.

STRENGTHENING THE FOSTER PARENTS SCHEME.

I am pleased that foster parents are officially added as key partners to support children and young persons in need of protection and rehabilitation. Foster parents, if properly selected and trained, provide a more natural and desirable setting than a group home. I have studied the Ministry’s Fostering Scheme and found it to be useful and structured. I have a few suggestions for Ministry to consider to strengthen this important scheme:

a. To cast the net wider to attract more suitable and interested foster parent candidates;

b. To involve them in the case management process to better integrate the care across schools, foster home and other areas; and

c. To put in more resources to train, enskill and support the foster parents so they can more effectively care for their charges – more so if the CYPs have special needs that require specialized knowledge.

In conclusion, Sir, the CYPA is an important bill and is overdue. In its implementation, there is a need to especially strengthen the co-ordination and integration of care to ensure the children and young persons receive the better outcomes they deserve.

The mission of ensuring a better life for them cannot be left only to the Government and the social service agencies. Those of us in the rest of society whether as neighbours, relatives or volunteers must join in the efforts to support this effort.

I strongly support the Bill.

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Watch my speech here.