effectively deal with child abuse problems, The Royal Gazette has learned.

The changes, which will see the creation of two separate departments, could be announced as soon as next week.

Probation Services will also be restructured to more effectively deal with a shift to more non-custodial court sentences.

Sources yesterday confirmed the changes were brought on by growing understanding of the scale of family and child abuse problems.

"The whole idea behind these changes is to give family and children more support,'' said one Ministry source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"We've been doing a lot of work to be able to respond more fully and more capably to some of the things happening to children.'' The changes will see more resources devoted to dealing with the problems sexual, verbal and physical abuse experienced by children.

"The Government feels it is essential to provide the resources to deal with the increasing incidence of things happening to children.'' Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness last night declined to comment on the changes.

"You'll have to hear about it from me next week,'' he said.

The planned changes are taking place against growing awareness of the extent of child abuse.

In 1990-1991, for example, there were 1,429 child abuse cases reported to Police. That three-a-day average continued through 1992.

Physical abuse cases involving children under 17 in 1991 numbered 80, with 65 of those females and 15 males. The number of sexual assault cases on children under 16 during the same year was 219.

And Insp. Gertrude Barker, the Police youth liaison officer, has said the statistics are only the tip of the iceberg.

The Health and Social Services Ministry's restructuring plan calls for the creation of two separate departments to replace Social Services: a child and family services department and a financial services department.

Details could not be learned, but it is understood the Child and Family Services section will offer new programme to more directly address the needs of abused children and their families.

The Financial Services Department will administer already existing programmes governing financial help such as social assistance, benefits to the families of prisoners and to the handicapped.

The changes were initiated by Social Services director Mrs. Luelle Todd and followed through by interim director Mr. Richard Voss, who replaced Mrs. Todd last year when she went on sabbatical.

The only significant cost increase associated with the changes will be the $84,372 salary for a new departmental director.

The changes at Probation Services are understood to involve retraining and realignment of staff duties to meet the Tumim Report's objectives to send fewer people to prison.

The service will be expected to shoulder a new load as more people convicted of crimes serve sentences outside of prison.

The changes are the latest feature of a broad Government initiative to address the problems of child care. This month the Courts began widespread arrest of fathers who have failed to pay child support payments. In May, Mr. Edness said Government will bring forward licensing regulations for baby sitters.