Riverton Family Centre

The Riverton Family Center was established in July 2004 through the collaborative effort of community members and a group of students and teachers from Canada, who had previously visited Riverton. The Family Center is to be used for a variety of much needed purposes; Parenting Education, Counseling, Youth Program, Elderly Program, Community Outreach program, assistance in seeking jobs, helping with resume and application, guidance in career choice, assistance in setting up a small business.

Past Progress: The primary focus of the 2004 Project was the establishment of a provisionary family center in Riverton City. Two main programs were implemented in the Riverton Family Center, one on Parenting Skills, the other a program to teach resume writing and job search skills. Additionally, a resource library was set up. Throughout the year further programs will be run by Junior Rowe, currently principal of Riverton Early Childhood School. The center will be supported by Canadian teachers and students during the summer months.

Goals: The ultimate goal of this project is the establishment of a permanent Family Center at Riverton City, which is in answer to the very real needs of this extremely poor section of the city of Kingston, Jamaica. The center is to be staffed by Jamaican staff and counselors and to offer regular drop-in hours and group programs to meet various community needs as they arise. The center will supplement the Health Center at Riverton City by providing social services and referrals to existing services in the Kingston area on an individual needs basis. Additional funding to support the expansion and continuation of programs and to allow for the hiring of a facilitator and counselor for the center is needed to meet these goals.

The actual work in the Family Center is to supplement and enhance the existing programs in Kingston, Jamaica, in the sites that are currently open and supported by the St. Patrick Foundation.

For more information about this program, contact us.