Be the first to comment!New Agenzija Appogg and FSWS offices opened in Gozo
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The Minister for Justice, Dialogue and the Family, Chris Said, has visited the new Agenzija Appogg and FSWS offices in Gozo. He said that through these offices, the agency and the foundation will be able to provide new social services in a comfortable environment in Gozo
The first phase of the building has just been completed and it will eventually lead to social services being offered in Gozo from just one centre, similar to the Access Centres already in operation in areas of Malta. This will be the first Access Centre in Gozo and will be a one-stop-shop for Gozitans to visit.
During his visit to the office the Minister commented that the next phase to be completed will be used for supervised access visits, with an emphasis on children, such as offering fostering services and specialised fostering. It will also include a service for youths seeking employment.
This part of the building will serve as the main Gozo link with the central offices in Guardamangia of Agenzija Appogg and will therefore facilitate the work that the Agency already carries out with Gozitan residents.
The Minister said that currently in Gozo there are 29 children being fostered in 22 families, as well as others in specialised fostering. A special training programme is expected to be set up in the Gozo office for foster carers as well as support groups.
“Fostering allows children and adolescents who are experiencing difficult times within their family, to have a family environment with their love and security is of prime importance. Supervised access visits arranged through the Agency will allow contact between children and parents who do not have custody.”
Although these two services were already offered to residents in Gozo, as well as other services offered, in particular by the Child Protection Section, Domestic Violence and Youth in Focus, the need was felt for an office to be based in Gozo to increase the accessibility of services and facilitate the process for those need them.
Minister Said concluded that “it is also a clear example of the commitment of the Government that social services are made more accessible to all those who may need them.”
