FIVE experts who work in child and family development will fly out of Bermuda this weekend on a learning expedition as guests of the United States.

This is the second group of local representatives to take part in the US Consulate's "VolVis" (Voluntary Visitor) initiative, which is part of the US State Department's International Visitor Programme.

The fact-finding mission will take in four US cities ? Washington, Baltimore, Rochester and Orlando ? and will involve ten days of intensive meetings with US experts.

The aim is for the professionals to meet, learn from and exchange ideas with their American counterparts.

Kennette Robinson, director of the Department of Child and Family Services, will head the team of dedicated professionals.

Representatives from the Child Development Programme, the Department of Financial Assistance and the private non-profit Family Centre will also travel.

US Consul General Gregory Slayton said: "The Voluntary Visitor Exchange Programme is one of many ways in which the American Consulate is reaching out to the Bermuda community.

"I am particularly pleased at the depth of knowledge and commitment that this year's VolVis team has displayed. We at the Consulate look forward to sending another strong team of Bermuda's leaders to the US in 2007."

The VolVis team will learn about programmes with a focus on mentoring and social services, family enrichment, building futures for disadvantaged children and reversing absent father trends.

In addition they will have the opportunity to discover how the Search Institute's 40 Development Assets Programme works out in the field. This has particular relevance as Bermuda's own Youth Development Plan is founded on the idea of the 40 building blocks for healthy child development.

In Orlando, the team's last stop before returning home, the focus will be on juvenile justice programmes. They will visit the Children's Home Society of Florida, which delivers a unique spectrum of social services designed to protect children at risk of abuse, neglect or abandonment; help youngsters break the cycle of abuse and neglect; and strengthen and stabilise families.

When they return to the island the VolVis team will be State Department alumni, which will enable them to take part in discussion forums and online web chats with guest experts, research grant opportunities and find the latest research in their professions.