Trinidad and Tobago’s Commitment to Inter-American Cooperation In

Promoting Social Protection in the Region.

Social Network of Latin America and the Caribbean and the Puente Programme-

The Social Network has created opportunities for building awareness and dialogue in support of major social development issues relevant to Member States.

Exposure of poverty alleviation practitioners to best practices and new ideas has promoted participatory learning among Member States, specifically, Caribbean nations.

The Partnership

Trinidad and Tobago is a committed member of the Social Network of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Over the years, the country has recognised the invaluable contribution of the Network in assisting member countries in capacity building to respond to the needs of our more vulnerable population.

The Partnership

Trinidad and Tobago embraced the opportunity to learn and build capacity in the adaptation and implementation of a model based on the Puente Programme.

This is reflected in the various opportunities presented through the relationship with OAS and FOSIS, Chile.

The Partnership

Opportunities for Partnership

WORKSHOP IN JAMAICA

INTERNSHIP IN CHILE

MONITORING VISIT BY OAS/FOSIS to T&T…report pending

Tutoring via a Virtual Forum and Internet facilitated further learning and reinforced the capacity building exercise.

The Network-based Capacity Building on Social Protection Strategies resulted in some of the following: Enhanced Capacity of members of the country team; Design of an innovative approach to complement poverty

reduction programmes; Raised level of awareness of poverty related issues facing

Caribbean and Latin American Countries; Build Social Capital; Provided an opportunity for a Caribbean approach to poverty

reduction.

The Partnership

The PartnershipTHE WAY FORWARDTHE WAY FORWARD

At the 14At the 14thth Conference of the Americas in Conference of the Americas in 2007, it was agreed that:2007, it was agreed that:

Trinidad and Tobago would host the Conference Trinidad and Tobago would host the Conference on the Caribbean Puente Pilot Program –on the Caribbean Puente Pilot Program –September 9-12, 2008.September 9-12, 2008.

- Sharing of experiences by Trinidad and Tobago, Sharing of experiences by Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia and Jamaica.St. Lucia and Jamaica.

-- Participation by other Caribbean countries that Participation by other Caribbean countries that have expressed an interest in the program.have expressed an interest in the program.

ADAPTATION OF THE PUENTE PROGRAMME

There was a need to implement the Conditional Component of TCCTP-The learning from the Puente Programme presented the opportunity to do so.

ADAPTATION OF THE PUENTE PROGRAMME

STRATEGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Greater focus on the family unit, seeing the individual’s problems in the context of the specific

situation of the family.

A more pro-active approach to targeting the vulnerable by meeting them at their door, in their

community or wherever they may be.

Ensuring that the system serves as an incentive for families to improve their conditions.

STRATEGIES CONTINUED…

Integration of the various offerings into a coordinated and coherent system - to address the diverse expressions of poverty while at the same time make a comprehensive offering to beneficiaries to promote sustainable poverty reduction.

Access, once assessed as being indigent or poor, to services offered by the State.

Implementation of a system that allows the clients to become agents of their own change instead of assuming the role of passive recipients.

Re-engineering the approach to the delivery of social services by introducing a family caseworker.

Developmental Programmes

Developmental Programmes

Life SkillsLife Skills

EmploymentOpportunities

EmploymentOpportunities

SocialProtection

Programmes

SocialProtection

Programmes

FINFIN

STRATEGIESIntroduction of the Family Intervention Network

(FIN)

STRATEGIES

SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION AND EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME UPLIFTING PEOPLE (STEP UP)-

TO PROVIDE:

Ongoing Psycho-Social support throughout the duration of the intervention.

STRATEGIES

The role of the Family Worker :

• To help the family to recognize its capital, significant

relationships and each member’s abilities,

knowledge, skills and behaviors as resources which

the family can value. The family worker and the

family will begin to explore the family capital and to

collectively visualize how this can be used as a

foundation to face family challenges.

STRATEGIES

KEY AREAS OF FAMILY LIFE PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION HEALTH EDUCATION FAMILY DYNAMICS HOUSING EMPLOYMENT INCOME SAFETY & SECURITY

MINIMUM CONDITIONS

ALL RECIPIENTS OF THE TCCTP AND/OR A FAMILY MEMBER MUST BE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONDITIONAL COMPONENT OR STAND THE RISK OF BEING

DISQUALIFIED FROM THE PROGRAMME.

METHODOLOGY

Client Assessment(Eligibility)

Programme Offer

Family Worker and client will begin to examine the key areasof family life and construct the STEPS to a higher standard of living. Minimum conditionsestablished.

Developmental Programmes

Developmental Programmes

Life SkillsLife Skills

EmploymentOpportunities

EmploymentOpportunities

SocialProtection

Programmes

SocialProtection

Programmes

FINFIN

Minimum ConditionsAchieved

Graduation

PILOTING THE CONDITIONAL COMPONENT

Trinidad and Tobago agrees that this is a worthwhile methodology and as such the new approach will be implemented on a National Basis as this will satisfy the Conditional Component of the programme. However for the purposes of research and tracking, two areas with the highest poverty have been chosen:

• Princes Town• Sangre Grande

POVERTY STATISTICS

PREVALENCE OF POVERTY WITHIN REGIONS

Sangre Grande - 39.1%Princes Town - 30.0%Siparia - 27.7%Mayaro /Rio Claro - 26.6%Point Fortin - 24.6%Port of Spain - 18.0%

POVERTY STATISTICSPort of Spain 18.0%Port of Spain 18.0%

Sangre Grande 39.1%Sangre Grande 39.1%

Mayaro\Rio Claro 26.6%Mayaro\Rio Claro 26.6%Point Fortin 39.1%Point Fortin 39.1%

Princes Town 30.0%Princes Town 30.0%

Annual Investment in the Social Sector (SSIP 2007)

0

1000000000

2000000000

3000000000

4000000000

5000000000

6000000000

7000000000

8000000000

9000000000

2004

2005

2006

2007

The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has embarked on an unprecedented development agenda to transform the country into a Developed Nation by 2020.

The driving force behind Vision 2020 has always been and will remain this Government’s enduring passion and desire to bring prosperity and a higher quality of life to every individual, family and community across the country.

Vision 2020 Operational Plan

CORPORATE OBJECTIVES 2008/9 OF THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL

DEVELOPMENT

Tied to the Pillars, Goals and Objectives of Vision 2020 are our Corporate Objectives:

To reduce the incidence of poverty in society.

To build strong functional families as the foundation of society and promote sound values’ system among the population.

OUTCOMES/RESULTS

• Strong families and communities (key to nurturing a

caring society) where vulnerable groups such as the

elderly, children, youth and persons with disabilities are

cared for and protected.

• Strong families give security, comfort and meaning to

life. They are the source of strength from which the

young can aspire to achieve their full potential. They are

the conduit through which our elderly pass on their

values and lessons learnt. Strong families also ensure

that children lead happy, confident lives and that our

elderly enjoy respect and dignity.