Ms.

Nicholson
THE FAMILY February 2022
Level: Intermediate
 WHAT IS THE FAMILY ?

According to the Health

Resources and Services MEMBERS OF A FAMILY
The family is a group of SHARE THE FOLL:
Administration a family is “a
individuals who are intimately
group of two or more persons • Common Surname
related, living under the same • Resemblance
related by birth, marriage, or
roof, supporting and maintaining • Same religious belief (in most cases)
adoption who live together; all
each other socially, emotionally
such related persons are
and economically.
considered as members of one
family”.
 GLOSSARY
1. Kinship – the relationship between members of the same family.
2. Monogamy – the state of being together or married to one person at a time.
3. Polygamy- a marriage or relationship with more than one person.
4. Polygyny- a marriage where two or more women share a husband.
5. Divorce- the dissolution of a marriage.
6. Marriage- the legal and formal union of two persons with the presence of a priest or credible person.
7. Incest – sexual relations between close family members.
8. Bigamy – the offence of marrying someone while being married to another person.
9. Annulment- is a legal procedure within secular and religious legal systems for declaring a marriage
null and void
10. Alimony - one spouse's payment to the other under a court order or the couple's agreement after
divorce or while a divorce case is processing.
11. Inheritance - the money, property, or assets that someone receives from a person who has died
 GLOSSARY
1. Matriarchal – a situation where the female is the head of the household, community or
business.
2. Patriarchal - a situation where the male is the head of the household, community or business.
3. Matrifocal- is the family structure which is centered around the mother and her children, in
such a family the father has a minimal and insignificant role to play in the household and
almost no participation in bringing up the children.
4. Patrilocal- is structured by a rule that a man remains in his father's house after reaching
maturity and brings his wife to live with his family.
5. Patrifocal- is family is one in which the father takes the lead role in making decisions and
raising children.
6. Matrilineal -family is one that traces heritage through the mother's side of the family.
7. Patrilineal – family that traces the heritage through the father’s side of the family.
8. Sibling – persons who share a parent; brothers and sisters.
HOW A FAMILY BEGINS
1. Courtship – this is a process whereby one tries to win the love of another. Courting
couples usually seem at “fetes”, cinemas, beach, parks etc. It is a period for developing
proper heterosexual attitudes and getting to know each other better. It is stressed that
during courtship, a sexual relationship need not exist.
2. Arranged Marriage – in this situation the parent choose a spouse for their son/daughter.
3. Shot-gun marriage – a situation where two (2) people are forced to marry because of the
occurrence of pregnancy.
4. Marriage of convenience- here a person marries because of wealth, status or position; the
situation where a national decides to marry a foreigner to obtain citizenship etc.
5. Family tradition- in some families, when a spouse has died, the surviving partner is
married to the most eligible family member of the deceased. This is not a common
practice in the Caribbean.
HOW A FAMILY BEGINS
CON’TD
6. Elopement – two people may elope and either form a common-law relationship or
a legal union.
 FUNCTIONS OF THE FAMILY
I. AS A UNIT OF PROCREATION- the family plays a significant role in populating
society. Within a family couples express their sexual needs without social disapproval.
II. AS A AGENT OF EDUCATION- parents lay the foundation and provide opportunities for
the education of the child. Even though the school as taken over the responsibility for
formal education, parents still contribute to the informal education of children. They may
supervise the child/children homework, give encouragement and offer assistance when
necessary.
III. AS A ECONOMIC UNIT- parents are the sole breadwinners. They bring money and food
into the family to satisfy the basic needs for example : food, clothes, shelter, books,
medicine etc.
IV. AS A SOCIAL UNIT TO MEET PSYCHOLOGICAL/EMOTIONAL NEEDS- the
family should provide an island of love, affection and security of its members. Children, in
particular, need proper love and attention in order to develop healthy and stable
personalities.
 AS A UNIT FOR CULTURAL TRANSMISSION- the family functions as a
reservoir for culture, passing it on from generation to generation. Culture refers to
all things we have, do and say as members of society.
AS A UNIT OF SOCIALIZATION- socialization is the process by which
persons learn certain disciplines such as punctuality, respect, industry, acceptance
of social roles and perfection of certain skills. The family serves as an agent of
socialization. It is the family that provides the child with its earliest set of concepts,
values, knowledge and skills.
ROLE OF PARENTS IN THE
FAMILY
1. Helping children to develop healthy lifestyles proper hygiene, exercising, eating
healthy foods, staying away from illegal drugs etc.
2. Spending quality time with children- playing games, going on picnics etc.
3. Providing children with the basic economic needs for survival- food, clothing.,
shelter, education, medical care.
4. Helping children to develop positive self-esteem by praising them for their efforts
and accomplishments.
5. Creating healthy balance between work and play by monitoring the time spent on
home and schoolwork.
ROLE OF THE CHILDREN IN
THE FAMILY
1. Respect parents
2. Assist with household chores
3. Pursue studies diligently
4. Practice thrift- take lunch to school , take care of possessions etc
FAMILY PLANNING
What is family planning?
Family planning also known as planned parenthood is a practice of measures
designed to regulate the number and spacing of children within a family.
Birth Control options:
A. Abstinence
B. Using the rhythm method or safe period
C. Use of condom
D. Taking birth control pills
E. Vasectomy- cutting the sperm tubes which transport sperms form the testicles
PREPARATION FOR
PARENTHOOD
In order to ideal parents and avoid conflicts in the family, a lot of preparation is necessary.
Some of the requirements for parents are:
 pursue education to acquire the skills to secure employment. A stable job will ensure a
steady and adequate income to cater for the economic needs of the family.
 be knowledgeable about family planning techniques. This will ensure that the size of the
family will not grow beyond one's ability to support.
 learn child psychology to be able to understand and cater for the needs of children at
different ages.
 create a healthy and peaceful environment for the child, filled with educational material.
 be healthy, drug-free, and free from communicable disease such as AIDS.
 be aware of first aid techniques to be able to deal with emergencies as they arise.
FAMILY PLANNING
INSTITUTIONS IN JAMAICA
1. Jamaica National Family Planning Board
2. Jamaica Family Planning Association
CHARACTERISTICS OF
EFFECTIVE PARENTING
Characteristics of a good parent:
Problem Solving Skills,
Communication Skills,
Socialising Skills,
Disciplinary Skills,
Knowledge Of Good Nutrition,
Showing Of Love/Warmth,
Money Management Skills.
FAMILY TYPES IN THE
CARIBBEAN
1. The Nuclear Family
2. The Extended Family
3. The Sibling Household
4. The Reorganized Family
5. The Single-parent Family
THE NUCLEAR FAMILY
The nuclear family consist of a mother, family consist of a mother, father and their
children living under the same roof. The nuclear family is common in modern
industrial societies.
THE EXTENDED FAMILY
Unlike the nuclear the extended family includes two or more generations living
under the household. The extended family included parents, grandparents, uncles,
aunts etc. The extended family can be ideal because it reduce the burden of
household duties as it can be shared with more people. However, if the living area is
small this may create conflict.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAFlRWjQG2o
THE SIBLING HOUSEHOLD
This type of household is headed by an older brother or sister, living with their
younger siblings. A sibling household may occur because:
Their parents migrate
Dissertation or death
SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY AND
REORGANIZED FAMILY
Single-parent family- this family consist of one parent and his/her child/children living in the same
household. A single-parent household can occur due to:
 death
 abandonment
 divorce
 by choice
“It is estimated that 47% of Jamaica’s children live in single-parent homes with their biological
mothers. Additionally, the number of households headed by women continues to rise as men erode
entirely from the family structure” (Headley, 2021).
A reorganized family is also known as a “blended family or step-family”. This family is a unit
where one or both parents have children from a previous relationship, but they have combined to
form a new family.
TYPES OF FAMILY UNIONS
In the Caribbean , there are three (3) main types of family union:
1. Legal Marriage- A legal marriage is a legal union between two individuals that require
the presence of a Christian, Islam or Hindu priest. These individuals live together in
the same household.
2. Common-law/Consensual Union- this is where two individuals are not married but live
in the same household and a sexual union. In Jamaica, persons are labelled as
common-law spouses if they are living together over five years.
3. Visiting Relationship – in this union the male and female do not live together but share
a sexual relationship.
4. Same-sex Union- in recent times, members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and
Transgender (GLBT) community have been clamoring for their rights to have same-sex
marriages legalized.
FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE
CHANGING ROLES OF WOMEN AND
MEN IN THE CARIBBEAN FAMILY
1. Status of women in society – the women liberation movement has given women equal rights as their
male counterparts. Women are no longer limited to household and reproduction duties but are now given
the choice to go to universities, study subjects and degrees than are not as “feminine” such as
engineering.
2. Employment opportunities – women are now being employed to CEO and managerial roles. Due to high
cost of living and female-led households. Women are forced to join the labour force and share bread-
winner roles.
3. Educational opportunities- traditionally, women were only allowed to do feminine subjects such as foods
and clothing and textile. Today women can study in any field of their choice, because of this the gender
roles in the house are shared and even reversed.
4. Available technology- women are now able to work once dominated by men. Secondly, household are
quickly carried out (Press Reader). In the light of the pandemic, women are likely to work from home
especially if they are the sole provider and caretaker.
5. Family Planning- women are now waiting longer to have children due to career choice or personal
lifestyle. They now have this option because of the different family planning options.
THE EFFECTS OF THE
CHANGING ROLES OF MEN
AND WOMEN IN THE FAMILY.
1. Male Marginalization- men who are used to being the bread-winner are now sharing that role with their
partner. In some household, the female might be making more money than the male and this can result in
the male feeling inferior. In other cases, the male is not able to provide for this family at all and is
referred to “absent male or marginalized male”. Where the male are feeling underappreciated, the family
might break up.
2. Identity Crisis- sharing the roles in the family, has resulted in identity crisis for several males. With the
female earning her own income and providing for the family males get the feeling that they are not
providing their “manly” duties. Reversing roles also adds to this (females are working and males are
taking care of the children).
3. Women are becoming more independent and with this independence divorce rates may and matriarchal
household increases.
4. Fluctuation in the rates of domestic violence- while women can earn their own income, its easier to exit
an abusive relationship because there is a sense of independence. However, the role conflict can result in
the male physically abusing his partner as a reminder of who has the dominance.
Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOyBid1xwXw
Q&A
1. I live with my mother, aunt, cousins and grandparents. What family do I belong
to ?
2. Mary and John do not live together but they share a sexual relationship. Which
family union is this?
3. Explain (1) effect of the changing roles of men and women in the family.
4. What is a family?
REFERENCES
1. https://www.hrsa.gov/get-health-care/affordable/hill-burton/family.html
2. https://www.pressreader.com/jamaica/jamaica-gleaner/
20191015/282467120657680
CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL
ISSUES
ABORTION
Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus.
An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous
abortion" and occurs in approximately 30% to 40% of pregnancies.

In Jamaica, the act of abortion is a felony and illegal in the country. Even though protests
and arguments have been forwarded about making abortion legal the church and other
formal institution remain with a negative view about this.

According to Robinson (2021) “Some 22,000 pregnancies are aborted annually in Jamaica,
and this is only a rough estimate from research done by the Caribbean Policy Research
Institute (CAPRI), which believes that the figures for the clandestine, criminal acts could
be more”.
ABORTION RISK AND
COMPLICATIONS
Most women experience some of the following after an abortion:

Bleeding – on average bleeding lasts 14 days but can last as long as 21 days. 1,2
Cramping
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Nausea/Vomiting
EFFECTS OF ABORTION
Immediate Complications
Damage to the womb or cervix
Excessive bleeding
Incomplete abortion, requiring a (additional) surgical abortion procedure
Infection of the uterus or fallopian tubes
Scarring of the inside of the uterus
Sepsis or Septic shock
Uterine perforation
Death
STREET
CHILDREN
Street Children are children who are
poor or homeless children living on
the streets of villages, cities and
communities. In Jamaica, street
children are found at the stop lights
on the main roads washing
windshields or asking for money.
HOW CHILDREN END UP ON
THE STREETS
1. Abandonment of children by their parents after divorce or separation.
2. Physical, emotional and sexual abuse cause some children to run away from
home.
3. Poverty pushes children to the streets in order to earn a living
4. Some children, particularly older ones, resort to the streets in search of the
fulfillment of being independent.
5. Death of parents

Source: Modules in Social Studies – pg. 90

ACTIVITIES OF STREET
CHILDREN
1. Prostitution - It is estimated that between 1,140 and 2,000 children live and/or work
on the streets island wide. PFSA reasoned that the interview findings are consistent
with other reports that indicate that children on the streets engage in risky sexual
practices. It added that conversations with boys in one community confirm that men
also venture in to have sex with some of their peers and arrange to meet them on the
outskirts of the community.
The article stated that “common daytime activities children engage in include selling
snacks, ground provisions, and newspapers; wiping windshields; and washing cars, while
a smaller proportion hustles in nightclubs and at parties”.
Source: https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20210625/street-children-
making-risky-sexual-transactions-study-finds#:~:text=The%20Child%20Protection
%20and%20Family,work%20on%20the%20streets%20islandwide.
Other activities include selling illicit drugs and stealing from pedestrians and vendors.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
1. Instruction of an intensive family planning programme
2. Governments must address poverty and unemployment as matters of priority
3. Fosters homes should be provided for abandoned children

Can you think of anymore?

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
A juvenile is an individual under the age of 18.
A juvenile delinquent is a person under the age of 18 who commits criminal
activities.
Some of these activities include:
o possession of pornographic materials
o robbery and theft
o prostitution
o truancy
o underage drinking
 TYPES OF DELINQUENCY &
CAUSE OF JUVENILE
DELINQUENCY
1. Covert Delinquency - refers to non-aggressive acts such as shoplifting; pick
pocketing, arson, vandalism and selling drugs.
2. Overt Delinquency - refers to violent offences such as attacking someone with or
without a weapon, threatening, murder, and rape.

CAUSE OF JUVENILE DELIQUENCY

 violence in the home
 peer pressure
 lack of moral guidance
 substance abuse
EFFECTS OF JUVENILE
DELINQUENCY
1. The delinquent can be imprisoned which results in the absence of proper formal
education, healthcare, and socialization. He or she may lose his or her freedom
while being incarcerated or placed on probation. The juvenile may lose ground
academically as well.
2. Crime rate in the country can increase with juvenile delinquents. It is a serious
problem that challenges the efforts of government agencies, politicians,
educators, faith communities, and nonprofit organizations alike.
3. The upheaval and trauma of having a family member who is a juvenile delinquent
can create instability for the other relatives. Not only does the family have to
cope with the needs of the child who is in trouble, but they may also have to raise
large amounts of money to pay for lawyers.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
1. Create recreational institutions to get youth involve in extra-curricular activities
or community building programs.
2. Education – juveniles who are educated or attend school on a regular basis are
less likely to participate in delinquent acts.
3. Outreach Programs/ Prevention Programs with Juvenile Justice System.
4. Legislation – The Juvenile Act (Jamaica)
TRAFFICKED PERSONS
Human Trafficking is a situation whereby people are kidnapped or abducted from their place of
residence and transferred to another where they are sold or forced into menial or degrading occupations
with little or no pay.
Human Trafficking is a global problem which is more likely to affect persons living in poverty , those
with little to no education or unemployed. However, some persons are trafficked through persons who
they have entrusted but have betrayed this.

Victims of Human Trafficking are exposed to:

 women are forced into prostitution
 females are forced into domestic labour or marriage
 children of both sexes are coerced into slave labour and/ or used to produce pornographic materials.
Source: Module in Social Studies pg. 85
ERADICATING HUMAN
TRAFFICKING
1. Passing of laws with severe penalties for those found guilty of involvement in
human trafficking
2. Special training of immigration officers to empower them to detect fraudulent
travel documents.
3. Greater surveillance of territorial boundaries to prevent illegal entry through the
“back door”
WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE?
Child Abuse is any act, or failure to act, on the part of a parent or caretaker, which
results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or the exploitation
of a child.

Any intentional harm or mistreatment to a child under 18 years old.

Child abuse happens when someone caring for a child hurts a child’s feelings or
body.
TYPES OF CHILD ABUSE
1. Physical Abuse
2. Emotional Abuse
3. Sexual Abuse
4. Neglect
WHAT IS PHYSICAL ABUSE?
Physical Abuse occurs when a parent or caregiver commits an act that results in
physical injury to child or adolescent.
SEXUAL ABUSE
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is abusive sexual behavior by one
person upon another. It is often perpetrated using force or by taking advantage of
another.

Child sexual abuse, also called child molestation, is a form of child abuse in which
an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation.
EMOTIONAL ABUSE
Emotional abuse happens when a child is repeatedly made to feel worthless,
unloved, alone or scared. Also known as psychological or verbal abuse, it is the most
common form of child abuse. It can include constant rejection, hostility, teasing,
bullying, yelling, criticism and exposure to family violence.

Emotional abuse is any type of abuse that involves the continual emotional
mistreatment of a child. It's sometimes called psychological abuse.
NEGLECT
Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a child's basic needs and the most common
form of child abuse.
SIGNS OF CHILD ABUSE
 depression – constant fatigue
 stealing – e.g., food, money, clothing
 poor hygiene – unkept appearance, malnourishment.
 behavioural changes, such as aggression or withdrawal from activities, friends or
family.
 poor peer relationships
WHAT IS A SEXUALLY
TRANSMITTED DISEASE?
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are
infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. The
contact is usually vaginal, oral, or anal sex. But sometimes they can spread through
other intimate physical contact. This is because some STDs, like herpes and HPV,
are spread by skin-to-skin contact.
TYPES OF STD
Chlamydia
Genital herpes
Gonorrhea
HIV/AIDS
HPV
Pubic lice
Syphilis
Trichomoniasis
CHLAMYDIA
Is a common STI caused by bacteria. Some of the symptoms of chlamydia are:
1. Painful urination
2. Vaginal discharge in women
3. Discharge from the penis in men
4. Painful sexual intercourse in women
5. Bleeding between periods and after sex in women
PREVENTION
1. Use condoms
2. Limit your number of sex partners
3. Get regular screenings.
GENITAL HERPES
Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection
caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Sexual contact is
the primary way that the virus spreads. After the initial
infection, the virus lies dormant in your body and can
reactivate several times a year. There is no cure for herpes
SYMPTOMS
•Pain or itching. You may experience pain and tenderness in
your genital area until the infection clears.
•Small red bumps or tiny white blisters. These may appear a
few days to a few weeks after infection.
•Ulcers. These may form when blisters rupture and ooze or
bleed. Ulcers may make it painful to urinate.
•Scabs. Skin will crust over and form scabs as ulcers heal.
GONORRHEA SYMPTOMS
•a white, yellow, beige, or green-colored discharge from the penis or vagina
•pain or discomfort during sex or urination
•more frequent urination than usual
•itching around the genitals
•sore throat
SYPHILIS SYMPTOMS
1. rash
2. fatigue
3. fever
4. headaches
5. joint pain
6. weight loss
7. hair loss
HIV/AIDS
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body's immune
system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome).
Symptoms: (Early)
1. fever
2. chills
3. aches and pains
4. swollen lymph nodes
5. sore throat
THE EFFECTS OF SEXUALLY
TRANSMITTED DISEASE ON
THE INDIVIDUAL
For women, if STI’s are left untreated common STIs may cause complications,
including pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, postpartum
endometriosis, infertility, and chronic abdominal pain in women; adverse pregnancy
outcomes, including abortion, intrauterine death, and premature delivery; neonatal
and infant infections and blindness.
High medical cost for the individual to buy medication in order to treat the infection
or disease.
THE EFFECTS OF SEXUALLY
TRANSMITTED DISEASE ON
THE SOCIETY
Government may have to bear the cost of medications that are expensive for
citizens.
If the country has high levels of STI, tourist may be reluctant to visit.
STIs can affect the life expectancy of the population, increase death rates.
Poverty and marginalization. STDs disproportionately affect disadvantaged people
and people in social networks where high-risk sexual behavior is common, and
either access to care or health-seeking behavior is compromised.
HOW CAN THE MEDIA HELP
WITH THE REDUCTION OF STI
Advertising campaigns about the importance of wearing a condom and getting tested
regularly. “Abstinence make sense”.
ACTIVITY #1
Name one common STD/STI. How is it spread?
1. Chris has been having some strange symptoms lately, like discharge from his
penis and pain when he pees. He’s had unprotected sex before, but not in the last 6
months he’s been with his current girlfriend, Lucia. Chris knows he should see a
doctor, but he’s afraid of finding out something that could mess up things with
Lucia. What should Chris do?
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Domestic refers to physical, emotional, sexual and economic abuse which is
perpetrated by one member or a family upon another. This includes child and/or
spousal abuse.
Examples of abuse:
 physical – kicking, shoving, choking, chopping, pushing
 economic – preventing/forcing victims from earning an income,
managing/controlling victim’s salaries preventing victim from accessing education
 emotional – threats to main or murder, humiliation in front of others, name calling
CAUSES OF ABUSE
Lack of education
Substance Abuse
Stress
Lack of religious moral and values
Loss of power in the household
Grew up in homes where abuse was prevalent.
POVERTY
Poverty is a state or condition in which a person or community lacks the financial
resources and essentials for a minimum standard of living. Poverty means that the
income level from employment is so low that basic human needs can't be met.
Poverty-stricken people and families might go without proper housing, clean water,
healthy food, and medical attention. Each nation may have its own criteria for
determining how many of its people are living in poverty.
TERMS ASSOCIATED WITH
POVERTY
Poverty Line - The federal poverty level (FPL), or the "poverty line", is an economic
measure used to decide whether the income level of an individual or family qualifies
them for certain federal benefits and programs.
Poverty Gap - The poverty gap is a ratio showing the average shortfall of the total
population from the poverty line—the minimum level of income required to secure
the necessities for survival. In other words, it reflects the intensity of poverty in a
nation.
TYPES OF POVERTY
Absolute poverty also known as extreme poverty or abject poverty, it involves the scarcity of
basic food, clean water, health, shelter, education and information. Those who belong to
absolute poverty tend to struggle to live and experience a lot of child deaths from preventable
diseases like malaria, cholera and water-contamination related diseases. Absolute Poverty is
usually uncommon in developed countries.
Relative Poverty - describes circumstances in which people cannot afford actively to
participate in society and benefit from the activities and experiences that most people take for
granted. It is conventionally defined as 40, 50 or 60 percent of national median disposable
income.
Situational Poverty - It is a temporary type of poverty based on occurrence of an adverse
event like environmental disaster, job loss and severe health problem. People can help
themselves even with a small assistance, as poverty comes because of unfortunate events
Generational Poverty - It is handed over to individuals and families from one generation to
the next. This is more complicated as there is no escape because the people are trapped in its
cause and unable to access the tools required to get out of it.
CAUSES OF POVERTY
What Causes Poverty?
Poverty is often determined by socioeconomic status, ethnicity, gender, and
geography.
Many people are born into poverty and have little hope of overcoming situation due
Negative economic conditions, natural disasters, or surging living costs—as well as
drug addiction and depression and mental health issues.
Lack of education
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Education is one of the best solutions to poverty. Globally speaking, even the most basic education – reading, writing
and arithmetic – can open doors for children that would otherwise be locked tight. But it’s more than that. Many
experts say that the cycle of poverty simply can’t be broken unless children receive education.
● Provide clean water Ensuring children have access to clean water is one of World Vision’s top solutions to poverty.
Safe water close to home can protect children from water-borne diseases, and free them from long, often dangerous
treks to fetch water. This gives them more time to be in school, learning.
● Ensure basic health care Experts agree that affordable, accessible, basic health care is a critical solution to poverty.
According to the World Health Organization, about 100 million people are pushed into extreme poverty each year, due
to out-of-pocket spending on health.
● Improve childhood nutrition According to the World Health Organization, eliminating malnutrition is one of the
most cost-effective solutions to poverty. The developmental, economic, social and medical impacts of malnutrition are
serious and lasting. It affects individuals as well as their families, communities and countries. Nourishing babies and
young children is one of the best ways to fight poverty. Doing so in this critical window can improve children’s well-
being for a lifetime – not just as survivors. But as students, earners and leaders.
● Support environmental programs Climate change is drastically impacting poverty. In fact, experts agree that any
viable solutions to poverty must include environmental programming – not just in poor countries, but around the
world. Between 2030 and 2050, climate change alone is expected to cause approximately 250,000 extra deaths per
year. That’s from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea.
LAWS PROTECTING THE
FAMILY
The family laws relating to:
Inheritance
Childcare
Legal Separation
Domestic Violence
Divorce
INHERITANCE
Inheritance refers to the money, property, or assets that someone receives from a
person who has died.
Inheritance Laws:
The principal laws applying to inheritance issues in Jamaica are:
The Probate of Deeds Act, which outlines the requirements for proving wills.
The Wills Act, which states the rules regarding making wills, determining the
validity of wills, and the varia
The Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependent Act) Ad 14 of 1993.
 THE
INHERITANCE
(PROVISION
FOR FAMILY
AND
DEPENDENT
ACT) AD 14 OF
1993.
CHILD CARE
1. Incest – ACT 27 of 1986, Amended in 1994 and 2000 – A person commits the offence of incest
when he/she has intercourse with a person knowing that the person is blood related, such as a
parent and child, among siblings.
 A person who commits the offence of incest is liable on conviction to imprisonment- (if committed
by an adult with a person under fourteen years of age, for life).
1. Child Abuse – ACT 4 of 1925 with latest amendment in 2002 – If any person over the age of 16
who has the custody, change or care of any child or young person, willfully assaults, ill-treats or
causes the child or young person unnecessary suffering or injury to his health that person is liable
on conviction on indictment to a fine.
2. Children born out of wedlock- Status of Children Bill 1981 – this bill legitimizes all children
whether born inside of a marriage or outside of it. The father of a child may acknowledge his
paternity by any of the following means:
o have his name registered on the birth certificate as the father of the child, if born out of
wedlock
o changing the child’s surname by deed poll to his (the father’s).
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
1. Domestic Violence Act (2004) - makes special provision for women involved in
residential and non-residential relationships. Proceedings under the Act may now
be initiated by a third party on behalf of an abused woman and damage to
property has now been recognized as a form of domestic violence which now
provides redress and protection to women affected by domestic violence.
LEGAL SEPARATION
Legal separation is a legal proceeding (very similar to a divorce) through which a
married couple petitions (asks) a court to allow them to live separate and apart and
end any marital obligations to one another.

a) The general period for separation in Jamaica is twelve months. The two
parties usually live in separate residences for the duration of this separation
period. However, there are special conditions that can exist that provide the
two parties to live in the same place but living separately. This period is
another way to give the couple the opportunity to reconcile before the
divorce process proceeds. Either through counseling, communication or by
learning how to live apart, the two parties can eventually return to the
marriage. If they do not in the end, the divorce will proceed.
DIVORCE
A divorce can only be granted by a court of law. In granting a divorce, if the
following issues cannot be mutually agreed upon by the parties, the court has the
jurisdiction to determine:
 the amount of alimony to be paid by one party to the other; the party with the lower
income or earnings becomes the recipient of alimony. Payments will cease only
when the recipient remarries or death of either party occurs.
 maintenance payments for children born into the marriage; these payments cease
when the child/children reach the age of 18.
 how the property/valuables acquired during the marriage should be distributed
between the parties.