Another significant stride has been made by the administration to better the lives of children especially those who are in vulnerable situations through the launching of the Minimum Operational Standards and Regulations for children’s homes.
The Standards and Regulations are intended to provide care and protection for children in orphanages and other child-care institutions. 
Minister of Human Services and Social Security Priya Manickchand launched the 25 minimum operational standards and regulations today at Le Meridien Pegasus, in the presence of  other Government Ministers, representatives from Suriname and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and  Administrators and Caregivers. 
 Minister Manickchand said child protection remains a priority of the Government, more specifically those who are vulnerable and are orphans.  “We intend that each child must live happy, productive lives, in a family or in an environment that is healthy and productive,” Minister Manickchand said. The published operational standards are guided rules and regulations formulated and consulted with Managers of Children’s homes in collaboration with the Human Services Ministry.
The standards are also guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child with current policies and knowledge of good practice voluntarily assured by homes, to the Government, for the provision of quality care to children in need of protection.
The Ministry’s child protection campaign in 2007 saw over 200 children being picked-up on the streets. Many of them have been re-integrated, into their families while the remainder remains in the Ministry’s care.
Minister Manickchand pointed out that her Ministry is still working to reintegrate those children with their families with financial and other support interventions from the Government.
However, for those children who cannot be reunited with their family, the Human Services Ministry is at present working on a foster care programme, Minister Manickchand said.
Project Officer, British High Commission, Sarah Wheeler who delivered the feature address said it does not require money but time and effort and the will of people to establish effective standards.
Wheeler said a management committee has been set-up to monitor the layout standards in each home.  One of the standards suggests that each home have a Management Board that oversees and carries out the functions of each standard effectively. Coordinator of Child Protection Services, Ann Greene said that institutional care continues to be the most useful option for many children around the world, when one considers the impact of Aids on families, growing poverty and conflicts and disparity in developing countries.
According to a survey in 2006, there are 600 children in residential care institutions in Guyana. Greene however commended the institutions for the work and role they are playing in providing refuge for  the  children.
UNICEF’s Representative, Deguene Fall and Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Housing of Suriname Tania Sanrochman-Kioe Asen both complimented Minister Manickchand and her Ministry for advancing measures to assist in improving and safeguarding the lives of children.
Kioe-Asen said that she looks forward to working with Guyana on this new development since  there is much that can be  used  to develop her country children’s policy as well. Minister Manickchand urged the caregivers to work towards implementing the standards in their homes as soon as possible. She promised that her Ministry will provide assistance where needed to make them fully institutionalized.