Can Steven be part of your family?
As in any society there are a number of children in Belize who do not live within a traditional family setting. Likewise, there are a number of adult couples who would like to initiate or expand a family of their own. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods has been busy trying to match the supply with the demand. Here’s her latest effort.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Six-year-old Steven Tasher was neglected for most of his life. As a result, the Human Services Department removed him from his parent’s home and placed him in the Dorothy Menzies Child Care Centre. The courts have decided it is time to place him for adoption. It’s been five years and young Tasher cannot wait for the day when a loving family will welcome him into their home.
Jolleen Arnold, Acting Supervisor, Child Services
“Steven and his younger brother Goldburn came into the department in about 1999 due to neglect by the parents. The department has tried to work with the father who was very much interested in taking care of the two boys, but that didn’t work out due to his behaviour.”
Although it’s the department’s wish to have siblings placed together, in some cases, like that of the Tashers, the boys will be separated. Child Placement and Specialized Services Acting Supervisor, Jolleen Arnold, says it was a difficult decision, but due to circumstances it was the best they could do.
Jolleen Arnold
“Currently, we have a family interested in Goldburn. We were trying to work with that family to take the two boys together, but unfortunately they cannot care for two. So this is one of the difficult decisions that the department must make in regard to the permanency of these children. So we have to separate them due to their behaviours, how they interact and so forth we though it was best to separate them as well.”
In such cases, the children left behind are counselled.
Today, Steven may have been too shy to speak to us on camera, but usually he is outgoing and not afraid to be the leader of any project at the home or at school.
Jolleen Arnold
“He’s normally the outspoken and active of the two brothers. He is always in the leader role and so forth, but I guess that because his brother is not here, he’s not interacting with the other children.”
The department has received a number of positive responses from families interested in adopting the children featured in our series, but Arnold says the process takes some time to finalise. But they are encouraged and now want to give Steven that same opportunity. Reporting for News 5, Jacqueline Woods.
If you are interested in adopting Steven Tasher, you can contact Jolleen Arnold at telephone number 227-7451.
