March 21, 2010…..The Ministry of Social Transformation and its Divisions will be celebrating Social Work Week 2010 during the period 22nd March – 31st March, 2010.
The main thrust behind social services week is to sensitize the public about the programmes that social services tackle, while at the same time fostering partnership between service providers and recipients of this service.
In this regard the theme for this year’s week of activities is, “Promoting Partnership for Effective and Efficient Social Service Delivery”.
This week is also set aside to recognize and show appreciation to the employees involved in the provision of social care services.
The Ministry of Social Transformation is responsible for social and community services with emphasis on combating poverty, enhancing equality, and improving the standard of living for all citizens in Antigua and Barbuda.
In its quest to ensuring that no one is left behind the Departments of Social Transformation offers several programmes. These include:-
* Social Services to family and Child Care Protection
* Home Care assistance to Senior Citizens living alone and eligible physically challenged persons
* Probation Service
* Counseling Service
* School Education Programmes in Substance Abuse Prevention and other information to the General Public
* Home repair grants to Senior Citizens to assist with minor renovations to their homes
* Payment of bi-weekly stipends to the Destitute & the Disabled.
* Feeding of Vagrants
* Educating Community groups in Disaster Management
* Collaborative work with communities for sustainable development
* Research, policy formulation and programme evaluation
As part of Social Work week the Ministry of Social Transformation will be hosting a number of events:
On Monday 22nd Church Service will be held at the Spring Gardens Moravian church at 10:00 am.
On Tuesday 23rd Community Development Division Recognition of Centenarians
Wednesday 24th Educational Day
# Community Development Division – Neighbourhood Watch Seminar at the National Office of Disaster Services
# Citizens’ Welfare Division – Educational talk in schools
# Ministry’s Headquarters – Motivational Speaker – Mrs Cynthia Simon*
Thursday 25th Social Service Street Fair – Redcliffe Street
Friday 26th Staff Retreat Day
# Community Development – Antigua & Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute
# Citizens’ Welfare Division (Staff Development Retreat)
Sunday 28th Community Development Division – NGO’s/CBO’s Pot Lock Picnic
Venue: Jabberwock
Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Barbuda
Monday 29th Church Service – Barbuda Seventh Day Adventist at 10:30 am
Barbuda Homes, Families and Gardens Festival Awards Ceremony
The Mc Chesney George Secondary School 6:00 pm
Tuesday 30th Elderly Care Skills Training
Workshop at Barbuda Pentecost Centre – 9:00 am – 12:00 noon
Evening meeting with NGO Leaders – 5:00 pm – Pentecost Centre
Wednesday 31st Beautification and Environmental Awareness Day
Talk in both schools – 10:00 am
Cleaning and beautifying the water wells (Well Cleaning Day)
