As part of the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services’ ongoing mandate to build, strengthen and support our nation’s families through the promotion of initiatives to support healthy family functioning in Trinidad and Tobago, the National Family Services Division hosted a two-day parenting workshop for parents of children with special needs.
The initiative was the first of its kind to be hosted by the Division and was planned in response to requests from stakeholders and past participants of parenting workshops to tailor a workshop for parents of children with special needs.
Approximately forty-one parents and guardians participated and completed the workshop held on Thursday 23 May 2019 and Monday 27 May 2019 at the Rio Claro Learning and Development Centre.
During the workshop, participants were educated on how to understand Developmental Disabilities and other health issues. Tips for coping and managing as a parent of a child with special needs and information on navigating Educational Services for Children with Special Needs were also provided.
Parents also gained insights and information on grants and services available to them and NGOs and other professionals who work with and for children with special needs. Parents’ testimonials also served as part of the discourse to provide parents with relatable experiences and resolutions when managing as a parent of a child with special needs.
The National Family Services Division Parenting Workshops are aimed at strengthening existing parenting abilities to equip parents and guardians with the necessary resources that would promote child learning and development.
These workshops will continue to take place over the next few weeks at various communities across the country. Participants are awarded a certificate of participation and following the training, parental support groups are formed in each region to continue to provide an avenue for education, advice and support.