Child abuse figures rose last year with 436 kids referred to Government in case of abuse and neglect. attributed the 1.6 percent rise to public awareness campaigns highlighting the plight of vulnerable children and to mandatory reporting.

She said Government was seeing more cases of the under-fives being referred over physical abuse and more girls under ten being referred after cases of sexual abuse.

There was also a rise in teens being referred for behavioural problems.

Mrs. Minors said: ?As we are seeing an increase in the total numbers of referrals the department is monitoring to ensure that no alarming trends develop.? There are now 135 children in foster care, said Mrs. Minors who said 34 had drug abusing parents while 11 parents had psychiatric conditions.

She said 73 children in foster care have a sibling or relative in long-term care.

?Amendments to the Adoption Act 1963, as outlined in the Throne Speech, will be tabled in this Honourable House during this fiscal year which will assist with giving children a better opportunity for permanency.

?Programmes extending across Ministries and departments are currently being developed to address the above mentioned challenges faced by our foster children in the hope that we can work toward family reunification.?

A new computer-based case management system will be tested soon, said Mrs. Minors who urged more people to join the list of 91 foster parents.