Cash strapped gov’t unit fundraising for teen mothers
(CNS): The Family Resource Centre, a government unit under the Department of Counselling Services and part of the health ministry, is asking the private sector to donate money during March as part of the annual Honouring Women’s Month (HWM) for its Young Parents Services. The FRC supports teenage mothers between the ages of 13 and 25 to access education, training, transport and childcare to improve their circumstances and “promote efforts of equity for success”, the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day.
Officials said that local statistics indicate a slight decline in the number of reported teen pregnancies in recent years but there has been an increase in repeat pregnancies. Over the past three years, 35 young parents and 36 of their children ages 0-4 have accessed the FRC’s Young Parent Services (YPS).
“The expenditures attached to this programme have continuously increased due to added stressors and limited opportunities, such as those created by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said FRC Clinical Supervisor Charmaine Miller. “This population experiences multiple barriers for success that include poverty, unemployment, lack of transportation, childcare, healthcare, and inability to access professional development and education.”
So as part of HWM, it will be fundraising for its Young Parents Services at events such as Dress for a Cause on Friday and the Colour Me Purple 5K Walk/Run on 26 March.
“The question of equity is one that impacts all facets of life,” Miller said. “In fact, the question of equity begins before one is even born, which is why the FRC continues to ensure that key services, including our Young Parent Services, remain available to young parents in our community.”
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Category: Fundraiser, Local News
As a teen mother, I did not let the fact that I had a child as a teen hold me back. As a single parent of three children, I aspired to not let the stigma of being a teen mother obstruct my aspirations. While slow in process as a single parent, I have completed higher education, feel successful (compafed to what was said I would become back then) and I am the proud parent of three successful and sweet young adults. This cannot and will not be the story for every teen or single mother/pardnt. And that is okay too. There was no getting back into high school for me without parents to fight, there was no FRC or other supportive organizations for young mothers. I did it all alone.
Many successful and great people have grown out of single and teen parents’ homes.
The comments here are so distasteful, selfish and downright disrespectful to any young or teen mother. Historically Caymanian women were often ‘single mothers’ what with the men going to sea or another country for work. For those criticizing and grumbling go make a donation at the same time of (as deserving as you feel it may be) critiquing government. Agreeably it is questionable and eye raising where money is announced as going instead of towards this department to help our young ladies. But bashing a life event because not everyone was borne into the same circumstances, or have the same frame of mind, or anything else applicable is counter-productive and fruitless.
Go stand on the Parliament House’s or Government House’s steps in peaceful protest to let the Minister know your thoughts. This is done anywhere else in around the world.
In final, who is to know this type of situation may fall on the steps of many of you here condemning.
women made themselves single mothers. Then they cry for help.
It’s pretty easy to avoid unwanted pregnancy with the contraceptive pill. Presumably birth control is taught in schools and widely available at pharmacies. Assuming most people become sexually active at age 16-18 and assuming sex education is taught in schools from around age 12 or 13, it’s personal carelessness really. Having said that I find it outrageous that cayman doesn’t provide abortion clinics. Surprised the uk haven’t stepped in on that.
Generational Caymanian here, and this is a short snippet of what I have come to realize about my country and its sex culture to date; I am now near 40 yrs old.
I had my first child at 17 years old, and upon reflection I note these things:
1. when I was a teenager sexual influence became much greater, cable television was more widely accessible and the internet was introduced to our homes. Not to mention BET and the booty shaking songs that encouraged sex at every corner which many of us watched at home after school when parents were still at work.
2. With the rise of the above-noted influences – there were absolutely NO changes to the school life skills curriculums which at the time merely covered the male and female parts, what condoms were and explained that sex was for procreation, how erections happen and what breasts were “for”. Looking back – the curriculum covered just enough to spark curiosity and send us on an adventure to discover the rest of it – which we by then had determined could only be done by finding a partner to experiment with.
3. Our parents at the time, influenced by their own upbringing, did not want to – or did not know how to – discuss the relations of boys and girls, the urges and just have the open conversation that, you will get horny, guys/girls will want you, there is a chance that you will have sex, I understand. Let’s put you on some birth control pills if you feel that you cannot beat the urge to have sex before the security of marriage and financial stability. And then parents – go ahead and explain what marriage is and what financial stability is like versus fretting each day about finding the next $1.
4. I recall, that as a teenage girl prior to my first pregnancy – the thought of pregnancy was far out of mind, if present at all. My mind was fixated on impressing this young boy and enjoying the “intimacy” of the moment – even while knowing he was screwing other girls too. In reality, unless the seeds of maturity are planted in a young teen mind through life experience conversations from a parent or other adult mentor – teenagers usually action thoughts based on emotions or peer pressure.
The responsibility of sex ed should not fall on schools alone, but since parents cannot handle it – we as society, through the schools, will have to give this education to the young people are WE will foot the bill for the unwanted pregnancies either through taxes or paying for the children when they grow up to be a burden to society if not steered in the right direction.
Fortunately, because I did have a decent family background even after falling prey to the urges of sexual pleasure and consequences thereof. Strong family support, developing maturity and continued education helped me to overcome the pressures of teen parenthood and I managed to raise a child who is intelligent, accomplished and far more sensible and prepared than their mother ever was at their age.
Fact is; steps have to be taken to avoid unwanted pregnancies altogether – and then proper support systems have to be put in place to support any that fall through the cracks.
All would have been solved by an abortion
Let me get this straight. A government department, whose duty it is , and part of a government with hundreds of millions of dollars in government surplus even after they spend money like water on BS like Miss Cayman or sponsoring Portsmouth FC, thinks the private sector should pay for the cost of them doing their job? All whilst they put zero effort or resources into preventative issues like proper sexual education , actively encourage expats to have babies out of wedlock as an immigration anchor, or even providing funding and assistance with maintenance orders ( and rigouously enforce non compliance) so these mothers can get assist from the fathers? Making it a law that breach of a maintenance order = termination of a work permit or PR would work wonders, as would a 3 month stretch in Northward for breach of a court order. But no… let’s just try and guilt the private sector into paying for it all.
How about teaching them to keep their legs closed. Case solved
Just say no always works a treat. Such a nuanced solution.
It’s really the men with no brakes, plying women with drugs, and then forcing those legs apart – and the community of misogyny that accepts that as normal courting.
How about teaching the guys that no means no? Can’t place the blame on the girls only.
The abortion comments in here tells me just how most of you foreigners feel about us! Some of you would love to rip us out of our mothers wombs. Imagine how many productive maybe even genius people were never born because their mothers had abortions? The authority to give and take away life is Gods alone, regardless of what you think and say! These comments are no different that the policies of the nazis and any other racist hate group looking to exterminate people in large volumes . And I know most of you saying it are foreigners because most Caymanians are not going to use such a serious action against their own. We are like a rat ingestion to some of you racist bastards who hide behind anonymity, cowards really! Wanting to abort our little Caymanian babies
uh oh, the crazy crowd have been activated.
Uno reverse the “I don’t care what you think” comment.
Ha! The blind person to our communities biggest issue of unwanted babies. Go hide in church clutching your cross and leave us next generational Caymanians to fix the mess.
Yes because that worked out so well in your country of origin. It’s not a solution. Time has proven that point again and again.
I am Caymanian, can you not read?
Why shouldn’t people have the choice to make that decision alone? Making abortion illegal is removing a fundamental human right of women to decide if they want a baby or not.
Let’s put responsibility back to where it belongs ( in this case to those who are sexually active) rather than always relying on others to pick up the pieces. I was sexually active for 14 years before I became pregnant at the age of 30. This was at a time when there weren’t nearly as much birth control options available as there are these days. When you have three children from three different men at the age of 25, sorry but that is your decision and nobody else should be asked to for assistance. One of the biggest issues in Cayman is that men are not held financially responsible for their offspring.
True, but the fact is, if society doesn’t help them to some degree, then they will be a burden on us all.
We all will suffer the consequences because, most just will not be able to parent effectively and cope.
So, they will neglect their children who potentially will get pregnant at an even earlier age; also become troubled and delinquent. They will be more likely to use drugs and alcohol, or turn to crime.
It’s you, me and others who are responsible citizens who will suffer when our society becomes more crime infested and decline.
I hear what you and many are saying. Educate them so they understand the consequences of unprotected sex; or encourage abstinence.
That’s all and well, when one has the support at home. Check the stats. These people having children so young or multiple children that they can’t care for, are clearly not coping well. Because some are coming from families with backgrounds that are not good.
Preaching abstinence etc can help, but some will always still slipped through the cracks; this is even when those types of programmes and many more interventions are in place.
As a society it’s my humble opinion, that we should all assume responsibility and give back. Because, sadly we cannot fix every situation the way we would wish to. It’s just doesn’t work that way.
Clearly you were a very responsible person. Good for you. I was and am too. Maybe you could volunteer by becoming a mentor if you have the time. The power of people like you can have an amazing effect and positively impact. Even if one person, that will make a huge difference.
Disgraceful that you can’t get a legal abortion in Cayman in 2023. Like living int he Stone Age.
Cabinet ministers recently attended the $2500 per ticket concert at Pedro. How much of our money was spent on the concert.
It was seem that any government funds used to buy these tickets should have been given to this department.
Really? According to the news coming out of the U.S. America will soon join the Stone Age too. Then where will you run to? perhaps having an abortion might be the hardest procedure that any one will have to go through. It is afterall taking the life of an innocent, helpless person. Some of you are too flippant about it. Makes one wonder why your mothers didn’t have your mindset??
because not everyone NEEDS an abortion. It’s insane that people think that just because your pro-choice it means we just think everyone should have an abortion. I know for a fact if someone close to me never got an abortion their father would have killed their mother because he blamed her for everything. so she got one in secret, he never found out. poor and 16 with no real world sex ed only religion was what lead to that unfortunate choice. not everything is black and white and denying the choice to make a call for what is right in your life with your body is the only answer.
It will be great if we see the following persons make a substantial contribution to the plea:
1. Members of Parliament.
2. The high and mighty among:
a. the realtors.
b. the millionaires and billionaires who own property/properties but don’t live in the Cayman Islands.
c. the Mega Churches on these islands.
3. The event planners who natch up money galore in hosting many of the events that promote anti-social behaviors that help to contribute to such outcomes that this ‘plea for money’ is trying to support.
Just a thought but instead of performing excorcism on kids who might be gay they should teach sex education to prevent future criminals. The uneducated teaching the uneducated. How can we win?
What is the FRC’s annual resource budget that it could be empty before the end of February? Can Sabrina Turner please explain?
Dec 2021: The Deputy Premier Chris Saunders introduced the 2022-2023 budget as one that is “Investing in the wellbeing, resiliency, and sustainability of the Caymanian people and the Cayman Islands.”
Minister Saunders said, “It is a budget that my colleagues and I are proud to present to the country. Mr. Speaker, this budget extends support to our people through investments in education, healthcare, and various social programmes, while simultaneously defending and growing our existing economic pillars of financial services and tourism to ensure their resiliency and continued success, all at the same time protecting our environment to ensure a sustainable future for all Caymanians and those that call the Cayman Islands home. Simply put Mr. Speaker, this is a People-driven budget!”
https://www.gov.ky/finance/publications-list-details.html
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Would it not be the Director who is responsible for budgeting? Come on it’s only February. Too much archaic civil servants crowding the space.
Govt has just announced a record billion dollars in revenue and simaltaneously begs for donations for its social sevices program. Only in Cayman!.
I’d have thought some of our 200 Churches might have stepped up here. No?
Anti-Christian individual chimes bitterness again.
“anti-christian”. Just wow. How many $millions have the churches been given by CIG? Enough to care for 35 girls and their babies that’s for sure.
Luke 14:12-14
Christian When its conveinent for sure.
learn to spell yow then your wors maybe respected.
huh?
Christianity in action would be welcome, if our zealots actually knew what that was. Sigh.
The money being spent on that hideously large church of god something or other on the Anton Bodden road would keep hundreds Fed and clothed for years.
It’s a CARICOM Classic:
1. Narco parishioner loans dirty drug money to registered church, to build a grand new church, or expand property beyond reason.
2. Church immediately repays loan to narco to launder those funds, retaining their small cleaning percentage that gets added to church funds.
3. The church can also import construction supplies, furniture and equipment duty free and resell to construction owners.
3. Round and round it goes, flying under CIMA, FATF, and public awareness. No public accounts, or accounting audits.
If there are even 5000 active church goers (and that’s doubtful) then there are enough “registered church entities”, for each church to have an average congregation size of just 25 people or less. If CIG and regulators don’t see the scam, they are complicit.
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Matthew 6:24
Dare say evil and wickedness is a threat to all.
Clearly obvious which master has been served and still is.
Some of the most heartless and crooked people I have met were pew-warmers and pastors.
Maybe I bumped in to the wrong people, but I would rather do my praying at home, safe away from the hypocrites even Jesus went on a rant about in Matthew 23.
The people He spoke of then were the same category of today’s pew warmers and pastors. If today’s churches actually taught Jesus’ teachings many church leaders would not be able to stand before a mirror. Matthew 23 is one Bible chapter I have never heard a pastor preach on.
Also – Jesus was a teacher, not a preacher… the two are very different and for good reason.
A little snippet of that chapter – verse 3 is telling:
Matthew 23
1
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
2
“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
3
So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
Same. Arrived back in 1990s but never joined a flock. Couldn’t find one that matched Anglican values. Oh well, next time.
there’s churches that are non-Christian! Bloody religists.
they create the problem then walk away.
They’re too busy laundering cash and flying under FATF radar.
gangs in schools…some family to people in high places….circle of corruption…young females dont have a chance i was told…(unconfirmed)
Here’s a new approach. Hold those responsible, responsible. Man and woman. Just like God does. And as a side note: Birth control works for all the responsible people on this earth. Make it easily available to anyone who might need it or society pays for it a lot and for a long time.
birth control has and can fail. that’s only the start. legalize abortion too.
Have you noticed all the people that are for abortion are those that weren’t aborted?
And yet you’re still here….
I’m for it for parents who can’t/won’t give a child a proper life
On the other hands, my parents were willing to, and could
Go sit down
All aborted children would have died in infancy anyway, prove otherwise
You’re a bright one. NOT.
I thought government was loaded right now with revenue from duty etc. etc.
oh boy.
Why should government (tax payers) pay for the sexual urges of the young and uneducated? Any money would be better spent on the third world schools on island for (responsible)sex education.
Because, ACE–>FRC–>NAU
THE BIGGEST cycle of poverty reason in Cayman is the constant knocking up of single parent Caymanian girls and the guy is nowhere to be seen for supporting the kids. Crazy how many Caymanian women coworkers I’ve had that have 3+ kids and no support from the guy(s) that got them pregnant. Maybe it’s the Caribbean mentality but it makes it dam near impossible to financially get by for those single parent moms. THAT is what should be taught in the schools. Oh and by the way Cayman Government has tens of millions every year of surplus cash. What friggin planet are these nuts on acting like CIG isn’t flushed with cash.
It’s a CARICOM issue discussed in many UN reports. Seems there is some perceived cultural milestone virtue in “getting a man” (however briefly), then becoming a struggling single teen mom that eludes foreigner understanding. Perhaps it is a pathway to connect with their own single mother’s/cousin’s/aunt’s/granny’s family struggles, and seek respect for persevering to make it work with the good Lord’s help. It doesn’t help that family planning, home economics, birth control, and safe sex are not seriously covered in schools. Even access to birth control and safe sex is inconvenient/restricted.
In the West Indies, for a girl not to have a baby by 20 means she’s a “mule”, a terrible humiliation for them hence the pushing out of babies for any worthless male on hand. Maybe it’s an African thing but wherever it comes from it’s ruining our young women and our society.
Or as Mac’s lawyer in Florida explained..
“ It’s a cultural thing.”
Time to stand up against it .
Hell-bent misogyny is the cultural standard.
‘Guys that got them pregnant’? It normally takes two willing people.
exactly why there needs to be better sex education because boys are stupid and girls need to be taught better.
Yes, but the guys usually leave for a new women and never pay child support.
Except, that only the one with the penis needs to be conscious. This is not a consent-based society, and men are protected all the way the top.
White guys on island have sex too but avoid getting the girl pregnant. I believe Caribbean men have a mentality and intent to get a Caymanian girl pregnant as if it’s like winning a medal or personal achievement rather than the reality of all the responsibilities and COST involved in raising a child … that is unless the guy just takes off and provides zero support which appears to be the outcome of the VAST majority of the time here in Cayman.
6:22 am Caribbean mentality? Which geographical area were you born in or reside? Are you not from Cayman then? Have you not been keeping up with the news around the world for as long as you’ve been on this earth? Teenage pregnancy and single parent pregnancy are worldwide life events. These is a normal part of life events and it didn’t just happen today. Stop criticizing the Cayman Islands because it’s obvious you’re not from here to make these types of comments.
They have plenty money to waste on referendum for weed and gambling.
Which in turn will generate revenue when we legalize and regulate rather than keeping both industries lucrative to criminals simply because of the illegality of it.
Democracy is NOT a waste of money – if you don’t like either weed or gambling simply don’t partake, but stop acting like only you deserve a voice.
There’s no assurance either will enjoy popular ascending support, which is why it has to go to Ref.
That’s true. Government will have more money to support the teen mothers and all of the other children whose fathers are wasting their money on gambling.
Some of that Miss Cayman money would have helped.
SMH – meanwhile our government is purchasing property close to shoreline the will be underwater in a couple of years and building a road in the middle of nowhere for developers and landowners plus taking on billions of dollars on a port relocation. People be ready for more taxes.
Yet, how much limitless public money was made available for CIG to consume fighting gays?
Give it a rest
No, it was a wasteful use to promote hate and non-inclusion in a place where the majority of people just want everyone to live their life with their consenting partner of choice.
Government has PLENTY of money right now to fund this or the education measures that others have suggested. Putting it on the private sector while they buy mariners cove is embarrassing
Best way they can spend their money is by providing free Contraception.
Make birth control more accessible, that is all. Offer condoms free in schools and some forms of birth control accessible at pharmacies.
and abortions too
Abortion is legal in the USA and free in the UK – those countries are still plagued by unwanted pregnancies.
The best option would be to provide more transparent awareness of birth control options and safe sex education – and to offer birth control options to any teen girl that comes forward at school to get it from the school nurse, ensuring the nurse is experienced in offering it obviously or have a visiting Gyno monthly.
A long term method like the implant in the arm would be best birth control option as the teens do not have to think about it after that.
why not both?
Mansplaining “implant in arm” guy: pregnancy avoidance isn’t the only reason to practice safe sex. Good grief.
How do you know it’s a guy?
Because it takes two to tango, and only a man would assume contraception/safe sex is solely the woman’s responsibility/problem. “Let’s just inject these women so we can mount up”, thinks the man brain.
Provide birth control in all schools. Why should it be thr private sectors responsibility. When a 15 year old gets pregnant chances boyfriend is over 21. that is called statutory rape
implant in arm? a tight rubber band around penis more like!
True, those extra thick broccoli ones. We’ve got purple, blue, and orange…take your pick, sonny.
So you think it’s only a women’s responsibility to practice safe sex? Dude, teach your boys to wear CONDOMS too.
Ask the Nutts. I’m sure they have plenty of green from their IPO event.
FRC underfunded – big headline announcing development of wellness center. Perhaps the Minister could have dropped some of her surplus on FRC.
Too busy buying 5 and 3 million dollar properties along our sinking shoreline. pact lunacy is so dangerously dumb.
How about you MANDATE teaching age appropriate sex education and responsibility in ALL schools (private and public) and providing access to birth control.
It is obvious that despite all the religious fervor and teaching of abstinence, the current way is NOT working.
won’t make any difference. there is a genuine sense of achievement here in relation the amount of children a man can sire by as many different women as possible. making the baby is the easy part, actually taking care of them and raising them right takes effort and it appears that few fathers hang around for that.
Unfortunately you’re 100% right. We also need a cultural change in the way that we raise our children. It’s a different mentality in the Caribbean.
So … where is the PROSECUTION of the fathers to the children produced as a result of the R@P3 which caused a 13yr old, 14yr old 15 yrd world and 16 yrs old CHILD to birth a baby????
NB … gestation is between 9 and 10 months, so if a 16 year old delivers the R@p3 happened before she turned 16 unless the child is born 3/2 months before the “mother” reaches 17 !!!
AND – why the hell is the Maintenance Act never enforced?
The Maintenance act is archaic. It needs updating. They only have one provision: garnish wages. My son’s father had an order from last year that he has not complied with but they can’t set a “precedent” and get the money. Can you imagine, he supposedly is getting money from a government department and they can’t instruct the government department to garnish the money from whatever they are paying him? They can’t do a one time garnishment? It’s ridiculous. In the USA, they could do it and they will take from your social security as well if necessary. Here, he has disobeyed the court orders for almost a year and he has no consequences.
Money would be better spent on abortions for these young mothers.
Perhaps they don’t want an abortion?
Why would they when the government will give them free money to sit on their ass and procreate with a different guy every year!
NO abortion NO money, that simple.
Meanwhile, the CIG resists free birth control and education, and the so-called “Christian” churches who underwrite asinine policy are nowhere to be found when the bill comes.
Make abortion legal here and then there won’t be any need to provide funds for young teen mothers and their unwanted children.
Birth control will do.
both. birth control can fail.
Birth control is just the start of the safe sex discussion.
prevention is better than cure…more handouts solves nothing and only makes things worse.
feel so sorry for the kids (not the kids having kids)
kids having kids…. a s truthful reflection on parenting standards in cayman
Really now with a wide brush huh ! You know what you do stick up 🖕🏼
ohhh found the 17 year old parent…
https://caymannewsservice.com/2022/09/govt-coffers-overflow-with-budget-surplus/