Children s Authority director Nichola Harvey-Mitchell - NATALIE MILES
The adage, “It takes a village to raise a child” is something the director of the Children’s Authority is hoping to achieve over the next three years to ensure the protection of children.
Nichola Harvey-Mitchell, 50, took up her role in March last year and has big plans for the organisation, from reform and self-sustainability to legislative changes.
Harvey-Mitchell, who has been an advocate for children in her personal life, told Sunday Newsday she intended to fully explore the rights of a child and ensure they were being properly enforced.
The organisation, she said, was developing its strategic plan, which showed the need to be more efficient and responsive.
The President has appointed a new board for the Children’s Authority.
A release from the Office of the Prime Minister on Tuesday said Gender and Child Affairs Minister Ayanna Webster-Roy met with the newly-appointed board on December 16.
The members are chairman Dr Carol Logie, deputy chairman Jennifer Boucaud-Blake, Dr Hazel Othello, Dr Gillian Wheeler, Harrilal Seecharan, Denyse Gouveia, Dr Natalie Dick, Keon Cunningham, Marcrina Peters, Rawlinson Agard, Sule Joseph, Maria Baptiste, Laura Davis, and ex-officio member and authority director Nichola Harvey-Mitchell.
The release said the members will serve for three years from the date of their appointment “in pursuance of the mandate of the Children’s Authority to: provide care, protection and rehabilitation for children; investigate and make recommendations with respect to the adoption of children; investigate complaints made by any person with respect to any child who is in the care of a community residence, foster home or