National Child Policy 2020 – 2030 of Trinidad and Tobago.

The National Child Policy lays down strategies to enhance the status and further improve the quality of life of Trinidad and Tobago’s children. The purposes of the Policy are to: (I) provide a comprehensive framework to guide all stakeholders towards achieving optimal well-being of children; (II) provide a framework for the development and coordination of policies, programmes and legislation that promote the rights of all children; (III) ensure sufficient, effective and sustainable resource allocation for services that would directly impact children; (IV) provide a gauge for stakeholders to position and align their strategies, resources and mobilisation efforts over the long term; and (V) create the blueprint through which the government could encourage all duty bearers, guardians and the like to shift from viewing and treating children as passive objects or possessions to seeing them as valuable human beings. The Policy addresses the physical, psychological, emotional and socio-economic well-being of children comprehensively through quality support and services. The health status of children will be improved and efforts will be given to treat, prevent and control diseases through the implementation of the Childhood Obesity Plan; revised guidelines on healthy and nutritious foods in schools for canteen operators; and advocacy programmes that promote a family approach to eating healthy and staying active. Social protection programmes will be provided by the Government, including the Food Support Programme which aims at promoting nutritional and food security to vulnerable households. The Programme enables families in need to purchase nutritionally sound basic food items, thereby enhancing the health and dignity of those households and reducing the stresses of poverty. The monitoring and evaluation of child services will be improved to ensure that such services have the desired impact.