And, NICH is finding a creative way to reach out to those children who that same MICS report would have found to be troubled, or in trouble. It's a set of dolls - and we don't mean barbie dolls, these ones are life size puppets. Courtney Weatherburne stopped by to find out what's so special about these dolls.
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
This may seem like just a fun one on one puppet show to entertain little Avian.
But really, this sassy curly haired dummy called Jazz, along with her friends are more than just toys - they are therapy dolls.
And today to end off a two week training on the use of these special dolls, NICH handed 4 of them over to the Department of Human Services - where they will act as the Rover's adorable little helpers.
Diane Pook, Civic Education Coordinator, Dept. Human Services
"The roving caregivers program which is the program that I coordinate is working along with NICH. They are training our rovers through Ms. Raquelin and Mr. Cosio on how to make puppets and how to use these puppets with children 0-3 years of age."
Kim Vasquez, Youth Development Officer, NICH
"Well Ms. Raquel Robles Pacheco has been conducting training for 5 years in Belize, doing this type training, she is a puppet master, she teaches puppetry and she has done a years of work in Belize. She has worked with Samuel Haynes, she has worked with the Yabra Community Policing project, she has worked with the Houses of Culture in the districts as well."
Diane Pook, Civic Education Coordinator, Dept. Human Services
"Rovers are early childhood workers so what they do they go into the homes of course with families who have children 0-3 years and they do different activities with the parent and child so they teach the parent how to play with the child, how to read stories to their child, how to make different toys they can use to help in the development of their child, how to help the child learn how to read, how to write , how to help the child learn how to look at colors, learn different colors shapes learn different words."
But apart from using these puppets to teach and engage kids, they are also used with kids who have been abused.
Diane Pook, Civic Education Coordinator, Dept. Human Services
"The anatomical dolls will be used for that, for cases that the social workers would have with children who have been abused like what Ms. Raquelin had said children relate more to puppets because they are the same size as them and they open up more to these puppets so looking at these puppets, talking with the puppets they will be able to relate more their stories than if I or you as an adult would sit down and tell them well tell me what happened to you."
So whether it's to educate kids or help children through difficult times - these dolls are sure to make you smile.
10 rovers participated in the training and as early childhood workers, they will be using these puppets in their work with kids and parents. These training sessions are held every year.
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