A visiting Child Psychologist has rated Bermuda's Child Development Programme as one of the best in the world.

Dr. Richard Abidin, a clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Virginia is visiting the Island carrying out "in service training'' to workers at the Child Development Programme.

The programme provides services including the screening of very young children and families who might be in need of support.

The programme is designed to ensure children develop properly with a solid foundation so they can do well in school.

Dr. Abidin is the author and publisher of the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) measure which is currently being used in Bermuda and all over the world.

Dr. Abidin was here a number of years ago and he was asked back to help with the training of new development workers and teach them how to use the assessments to figure out which families need support.

Dr. Abidin said: "I have seen a lot of the development centres across the world and the US and Bermuda is one of the finest.'' "The staff have a very strong commitment to stay up with the literature'' and he described the centre as "a real gem.'' On Friday Dr. Abidin conducted a workshop with 12 staff members, working on the assessment process.

Dr. Abidin said working with mothers and young children was the starting point for producing good citizens.

The programme is centre based, whereby mothers and children come and learn at the centre, but home visits play a large part in ensuring as many children and mothers are catered to.

Dr. Abidin said of the Child Development Programme: "I am impressed by the population's willingness to make use of it as it shows they value it.'' The programme was started in 1978 as a pilot project through the collaboration of the Ministries of Health and Social Services and of Education and was recently brought under control of the Ministry of Education.

Underlying all of the services of the Child Development Programme is the assumption that parents, at one time or another, require resources and information to assist them as they raise their children.

The servoce provides them with information and skills about child development and parenting.

In the interests of the future Dr. Richard Abidin pictured at the Child Development Programme where he conducted a refresher training workshop for staff on family assessment and intervention.