The key functions of the Administration Division are to Provide strategic direction, Policy Planning, Management and Administrative Services to support the efficient and effective operation of programmes and activities.

• Registry- Registry serves as an information hub for the housing of Ministry files for all units/ divisions. The registry is also responsible for mail management and information sharing.
• Finance Unit- The Finance Unit is responsible for the financial management of the Ministry and is guided by the Ministry of Finance which is the umbrella body that provides operational directions to the Unit. The Unit is responsible for salary processing and payment, beneficiary payments, financial reports including collaborating with the Audit Department Ministry of finance.  
• Human Resource- The Human Resource Unit provides personnel management assistance including processing of leave, employee record keeping and management including contract records. The Unit also provides human resource checks and balances assistance to the Ministry’s management team.
• Secretarial Services- The Secretariat provides support assistance to all divisions, which includes telephone operating functions, administrative client support services and general office procedure activities.    
• Social Policy, Planning and Project Unit- The Unit provides technical assistance to the Ministry with social programme and project management, programme and project development, monitoring and evaluation, capital budget preparation etc.
• Communication
• General Administration- General Administration services include office attendant services, transportation and chauffeur services etc.

Program Objectives

• To strengthen planning and management processes and systems to improve the overall effectiveness of the Ministry.
• To ensure that funds allocated are effectively managed and accounted for in accordance with the Finance and Audit Act
• To develop, implement and update evidence based social development policies
• To effectively manage and develop the Ministry’s human resources for improved service delivery
• To develop effective projects and programmes within a monitoring and evaluation framework

Goal

The Social Policy, Planning and Project Unit of the Ministry of Social Development, Housing and Community Empowerment is responsible for the development of social policies and plans to enhance the technical delivery of the Ministry.

Objectives

• To increase the technical responsiveness of the Ministry of Social development, Housing, and Community empowerment 
• To increase success rate of project, programme, policies 
• To improve collaboration with external agencies and friendly government in the coordination of sustainable development goals and  implementation

Background

Within the Grenada socio-economic context, there are poor families living within our societies who are unable to adequately provide for their basic needs. Among the challenges is their financial inability to construct adequate housing facilities. The cost of building material and construction labour in the midst of the current economic climate puts adequate housing out of the reach of persons within the poorest quintile of the population. 

The Housing Unit provides supplementary material assistance to the poor and vulnerable. The assistance is considered a grant for those who are unable to repay but on the other hand those who can repay are required to pay minimal amounts according to their financial ability.  Rebuilding assistance is also given in disaster situations including fire, floods and other forms of natural and man-made disasters.

Services Provided

• Building material support
• House repair support
• Emergency Housing support
• Home Repair Work Brigade support

The Division of Gender and Family Affairs has the responsibility to promote and create an enabling environment, and provide specific services, to support the advancement of gender equality, women’s empowerment and stronger families using a human rights perspective

Program Objectives

• To promote equitable relations between men and women in the society and improve their quality of life;
• To promote the valuing and recognition of men’s and women’s contribution to national development;
• To reduce the levels of gender-based and other forms of violence in the society, and facilitate domestic, social and national peace and security;
• To improve the social outcomes of familial relationships
• To provide a nationally and culturally relevant institutional framework for the implementation of GEPAP to effect equitable development

Program Units

• Gender Mainstreaming Unit
• Gender Equality Unit- (Men’s Desk, Gender Programming)
• Gender-based Violence Unit
• Family Affairs Unit- (Parenting)

The Domestic Violence Unit was established in 2003 to address the increasing incidence of domestic violence occurring in the State. As a signatory to Regional and International Conventions and agreements Grenada is committed to the preservation of human rights and protection of women from all forms of violence.

The main goal of the Domestic Violence Unit is to provide protection and support structures to effectively address issues of Domestic Violence within the State.

Some of the primary objectives are:

• To adequately address various issues of Domestic Violence and other forms of abuse on a national level
• To heighten public awareness of Domestic Violence
• To provide educational programmes nation-wide on the root causes of Domestic Violence, its effects on the individual and families with an emphasis on prevention

Treaties, Conventions, Agreements

The programmes and activities of the Domestic Violence Unit are guided by a number of National, Regional and International Treaties, Conventions and Agreements.  These include the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), (1990), The 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Inter American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence (Belem do Para).  The Unit’s work is also informed by national legislation including the Domestic Violence Act (2001), The Criminal Code (Volume 1 of the Revised Laws of Grenada) and the Child Protection Act, 2008.

Activities and Programmes

The programmes and activities of the Unit are designed to address wide-reaching needs of the community in the areas of public awareness, education, outreach, counseling and relationship building.

1. Public Awareness: These activities focus on increasing public awareness throughout the various communities using different strategies.  Currently, plans are being developed to produce a series of television, radio and other forms of promotion that will serve to sensitize the public.
2. Education/Training: A number of educational programmes have been undertaken to share information about domestic violence.  For example, a series of training workshops have been conducted to address the role of police officers as partners and first responders in the fight against domestic violence.
3. Community Outreach: Outreach efforts include distribution of reader-friendly copies of the Domestic Violence Act of 2001, Booklets providing information on domestic violence and other related pamphlets, throughout Grenada.  These material are distributed in homes, schools, agencies, social service district offices, community centres and local business houses.
4. Counseling: Basic counseling assistance is provided to individuals and their families impacted by domestic violence.  This assistance is designed to help persons cope with the trauma of their experience, provide strategies for protecting themselves and their families and to make the necessary plans to achieve safety and stability.
5. Relationship Building/Liaising: To support the work of the Unit and ensure clients’ needs are fully met, strategic relationships with individuals and organizations have been developed and maintained.  The Unit works closely with a number of inter and intra-governmental departments, non-governmental organizations and community agencies to secure resources that are needed by victims of domestic violence.
6. Information/Education Materials: A number of print material on domestic violence have been produced in the Unit for sharing with victims and stakeholders.  

The role of the Community Empowerment Division is to mobilize and organize Communities to work towards achieving improved basic social amenities, infrastructure, skills and livelihood and foster volunteerism to inspire communities to be Centres of Excellence.

• Implementation of Human Resources Development Training/Capacity Building Programmes, which can lead to skills development and enhanced livelihood;
• Assisting Communities in identifying and implementing projects that address Basic Social Amenities and Infrastructure within the community for the improvement of their environment;
• Facilitate rehabilitation/upgrading of Community/Resource Centres in collaboration with the Ministry of Works;
• Establishing and maintaining linkages and working collaboratively with relevant existing projects, other Governmental and non-Governmental Agencies.

Program Objectives

• To empower individuals to be their own change agents
• To create the enabling environment to promote community empowerment

The Division of Social Services in the Ministry of Social Development, Housing and Community Empowerment has been mandated to provide services that are geared towards equitable and sustainable improvement in the quality of life of the poor and vulnerable citizens of Grenada.

The main focus of the Division is to address issues of poverty. In order to accomplish this vision, the Division has deployed a mechanism that provides: restorative, rehabilitative and support services to young and adult offenders and victims; services to individuals and families in times of crisis; services geared towards improving the lives of the elderly; and services geared towards the early stimulation of infants between the 0-3 year.

Program Objectives

• To provide an improved quality of life for our elderly persons 
• To provide services to the court probationers, young offenders and those on community sentences, to enable them to lead honest and productive lives
• To enable children to live in a safe and secure environment, in which their rights are guaranteed and protected
• To improve education and health outcomes of the poor through co-responsibilities that link positive behaviour changes to cash transfers.
• To improve coverage of Social Safety Net programs
• To provide the basic and more comfortable shelter for its vulnerable, marginalized, destitute and indigent poor in our society
• Providing psychological support to individuals and families in times of crisis through individual, group and family counseling

Program Units

• Social Work Unit
• Probation Unit
• Counselling
• Early Childhood Unit
• Desk of the Elderly
• Social Protection- (S.E.E.D, Water Assistance, Burial Assistance, Glasses Assistance, Emergency Relief Assistance)
• Juvenile Justice Unit
• National Committee for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse

The primary role of the Social Work Unit is to carry out social work related activities, including but not limited to case management and referrals to other programs to effect behavioral changes within beneficiary families and empower them to enhance their own well-being. Social workers are distributed throughout the parishes in an effort to increase the coverage of the social service delivery to the increasing client base, thereby improving the quality of the services offered.

The Ministry has five sub-offices, each of which is managed by a Social Worker. 

Social workers within the Social Work Unit perform duties such as: 

• The investigation, assessment and recommendations for Social Protection  programmes; 
• The provision of family services to individuals and families 
• Effective Community Prevention Practices and interventions
• Providing supportive services to the law courts.
• Social work case management activities: Social Work Case Management involves a package of multiple services to meet the family household needs (including but not limited to: counselling and goal setting; coaching and mentoring; linking families to other services; problem-solving with the family; among others).

Mission Statement

The mission of the Probation Unit is to provide or refer offenders to programs that reduce delinquent and criminal activity and to enhance the safety of the community by effectively supervising offenders and delivering essential services to the Courts. 

This mission is accomplished through collaboration and partnerships which encompass a continuum of sanctions including prevention/intervention programming, investigation and supervision, ultimately to hold offenders accountable while promoting their rehabilitation.

The Probation Unit serves the law courts and is responsible for ensuring that court-ordered conditions are met. To do this, probation officers provide direction, guidance and mentoring in face-to-face supervision appointments. Probation officers address mixed feelings and ideas, encourage change, reinforce positive behaviour and confront behaviour that is not conducive to a successful probation outcome. Probation officers hold offenders accountable by ensuring that financial restoration is being paid to victims and community service is completed. Probation officers communicate with family members, Police, employers, schools and treatment providers to assess compliance. They perform school visits to our youth and unannounced home visits to confirm compliance with probation conditions.

The Probation Unit is also focused on addressing the needs of juveniles and offenders who come into conflict with the law and is an essential service which supports the criminal justice system. The Probation Officers provides a variety of services to both the Magistrate’s Courts and the High Courts throughout the State including, but not limited to,  monthly rotations at the juvenile and family Courts throughout Grenada; social inquiry reports submitted to the court; Community service order supervision; and the development and implementation of rehabilitative/ intervention programmes for adults  youths and juveniles.

Personal counselling is a helping process that takes place between a client and a professional counselor. In an atmosphere of acceptance, clients develop trust in a counselor who is there to promote growth and self-direction. The counseling process is not about giving advice, and it is confidential!

The Counselling unit was established in October 2010 with its main goal to assist individuals achieve positive mental health and improved psychological functioning. We aim to improve the functioning of families of individuals, families and communities through preventative and rehabilitative work. The unit provides psychosocial support to individuals in times of crisis, and teaches important skills as anger management, conflict resolution, problem solving and decision making.

Motto: Seeking help is always a sign of strength not weakness

We operate Monday-Thursday 8:30 am-4 pm. Our services are provided at the main office Ministerial Complex and any of our district offices. 

Occasions for counselling:

• Family/Domestic Violence
• Stress/Depression
• Anxiety
• Marriage and Family issues
• Loss and Grief Issues
• Personal Growth Concerns
• Self Esteem Issues
• Sexual Abuse Survivors
• Child Behavioral Problems
• Trauma
• Anger Management
• Conflict Management
• Poor social skills

This Unit focuses on the caring, monitoring and oversight of early childhood services in Day Care facilities as well as the GRENCASE Roving Caregivers’ Programme which offers stimulation to children ranging from zero to three years from vulnerable families in their own home environment.

The Early Childhood Unit supports the expansion of the early childhood movement through education initiatives that foster lifespan development and lifelong learning. Emphasis is also placed on advocacy aimed at enlisting the support of parents and community to be actively involved in the holistic development of our nation’s children.

Early Childhood Development continues to be an important starting point in the lives of our children. Using the SPICES (Social, Physical, Intellectual, Creative, Emotional and Spiritual) approach, young children can experience maximum beneficial growth at a time when their brains are most receptive. 

At present, there are over 40 day care centres in Grenada. Eleven are owned and operated by the Government of Grenada and are referred to as ‘Child Development Centres’ and the remaining day care centres are privately owned.

The Desk of the Elderly is the Unit within the Ministry of Social Development, Housing & Community Empowerment located on Melville Street, St. George’s. It is centrally located within the town of St. George, which makes it very accessible to the Elderly.

The Desk of the Elderly was established in 2000, when the Government of Grenada recognized the need for better coordination and implementation of the services offered to all persons 60 years and over and their families throughout the State of Grenada.

The Desk of the Elderly takes care of matters relating to our senior citizens. It is geared towards improving the lives of the elderly, as well as coordinating activities for the homes of the aged throughout the tri-island State. The unit works very closely with GRENCASE who coordinates the Geriatric Caregivers Programme. The clients are screened and referred to the programme. Once qualified, clients are provided with care in their own home environment by trained Geriatric Caregivers.

Functional Areas

1. To provide a range of comprehensive quality services to the Elderly.
2. To increase awareness of, and accessibility to, services available to the Elderly.
3. To ensure that Homes for the Aged operate in accordance with the existing Standards.
4. To create and implement programs geared towards active aging and the preservation of our National Heritage in collaboration with stakeholders.
5. Investigation and Assessment of elderly abuse cases.
6. Centenarian Celebration and Documentation.

The aim of the Juvenile Justice Unit is to prevent juveniles from offending and re-offending. 

The Juvenile Justice Unit, as a public body, has a duty to cooperate with other public bodies to prevent juvenile crime and should monitor and review its service delivery to ensure that it is doing all it can to achieve its objectives.

Objectives

The Juvenile Justice Reform Project focuses on the provision of: 

• Diversion – establishment of an effective system of diversion which serves the needs of children in conflict with the law
• Rehabilitation - Establishment of a system of rehabilitation underpinned by evidence based diagnosis and treatment for children in conflict with the law.
• Reintegration - successful reintegration of children in conflict with the law, into society