THE CHILD CARE BOARD will be focussing more on men next year.

Following a parenting seminar yesterday at the National Union of Public Workers, Dalkeith, St Michael, where it was noted that women again outnumbered men, Director Joan Crawford said it was something they would be examining.

Senior child care officer Colin St Hill said a number of factors were responsible. These included being too busy; not being interested unless the situation affected them directly or marketing deficiencies on the board's part. He said a strategic plan with men in mind had to be developed.

Acting senior child care officer, Delvina Waithe, said despite more women being involved in parenting, fathers were increasingly getting involved in their children's lives. She said a men-only parenting forum would be ideal.

"Men sometimes feel marginalised and some think things like this make no sense but I think one of the things we need to do is have an all men forum and I think if we did, men would attend," she said.

However, she added that absenteeism was not limited to men alone which was why they started the community parenting programme where they could take the message directly to the community. The next one takes place today at the Haynesville Day Care Centre. (CA)