Media Releases

The Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago notes recent concerns within the public domain about children residing at Children’s Homes who are pregnant. The Authority wishes to advise the public that there are two Children’s Homes specifically designated for pregnant teens. It must be noted that the children were already pregnant when they were brought to the attention of the Authority for placement and the relevant Police reports were made at that time. While at these Homes, the girls are provided with care and intervention to prepare them for motherhood.

Over the past eight years since the operationalisation of the Authority, there have been two instances of girls who became pregnant while they were residents of Children’s Homes. During the Authority’s investigation, it was determined that no staff member of the Homes was responsible for the girls becoming pregnant. As is customary, the matters were reported to the Police, who are conducting their investigation.

The Authority also wishes to remind the public that the organisation does not manage the operations of Children’s Homes. The management of the Homes is conducted by the Board of each residential facility. The Authority, however, through its Licensing and Monitoring Department, is responsible for the conduct of regular announced and unannounced monitoring visits at all Children’s Homes to ensure that they provide for the safety, security and welfare of the children in their care.

The public is reminded that “child protection is everybody’s business” and any suspicions of child abuse should be reported to the Authority’s Hotline at 996 or the Police at 999.

The Authority notes that the placement of children in institutional care is a last resort and it is working with partners in the child protection sector to strengthen family and community interventions, to limit the number of children who are received into care.

The Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Port of Spain, in collaboration with the 14 independent children’s Care Homes under the management of Catholic denominational boards and orders have embarked on a joint effort to promote greater support to vulnerable children at Children’s Homes.

During a recent meeting between representatives of the Office of the Archdiocese, led by Archbishop Reverend Charles Jason Gordon and the Authority, led by acting Director, Mrs. Rhonda Gregoire-Roopchan, it was noted that there is a need for greater collaboration between the two organisations to facilitate safe spaces where children in care can become well adjusted, contributing members of society. The first goal, therefore, would be to reintegrate children with their families where it is safe, possible, appropriate and in the best interest of the child.

The Archbishop stated that “caring for vulnerable children is one of the very important, sacred duties of any civilization, and is consistent with the role of the Church in society.” Mrs. Gregoire-Roopchan noted that “care involves the whole person and goes beyond the physical housing of children. She also expressed that children thrive best in a family environment and this has to be central to the approach of residential and alternative care”.

The Archbishop noted that the Church has been promoting care to children through several independent Catholic-run Homes for over 150 years; and he called on the State to do more to support the Homes in their effort to meet the growing needs of the children in their care. Those needs, he emphasised, go beyond housing and accommodation; they include education and training, recreational outlets, psychological and medical care, access to counselling, trained and competent institutional staff and a more sensible and sensitive approach to how children are transitioned.

Discussions also addressed the progress made by the independent Catholic Care Homes in achieving licensure. Eleven of 14 Catholic-run care homes have now achieved compliance and another 3 are nearing completion.

Also, on the agenda was alternative care and the need for persons and families to embrace Kinship Care or Foster Care for children who are unable to remain with their birth families. The Church seesthis as a Christian duty of care. The Authority and the Office of the Archdiocese will continue their collaboration towards safeguarding children and building capacity within families to care for their children.

Child Protection is Everybody’s Business

For more information on child safety and protection please contact:
The Children’s Authority: 996
National Family Services Division, Ministry of Social Development and Family Services: 623-2608
The Student Support Services Division, Ministry of Education: 724-1010
The Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-SAVE
Trinidad and Tobago Association of Psychologists: 717-8827
Childline: 131
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service: 999

The Chairman of the Board of Management of the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Carol Logie, will present the organisation’s investment in family-based environments at the 2023 World Forum on Early Care and Education, in Panama, from May 2-5, 2023.

The Authority’s work towards deinstitutionalisation is in alignment with the United Nation’s policies regarding the best interests of children. The organisation’s focus is on transforming its child services to better protect and rehabilitate children, protect them from abuse and significantly strengthen families and communities. It involves increased collaboration with stakeholders in the child protection sector and the national community.

Children deserve to grow with their families. However, when it is not possible, appropriate, or in the best interest of a child, a family-based environment should be the alternative placement option. To this end, the Authority has been emphasising Foster Care and Kinship Care as the first placement option, before consideration of institutional care.

Dr. Carol Logie, who is a global leader in Education and Child Development, is a featured speaker at the World Forum.

Delegates from 80 countries will gather at the World Forum in Panama, to promote and exchange ideas on the delivery of quality services for young people in diverse settings.

The Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago wishes to advise that recent public statements regarding the payment of salaries and other matters concerning the Authority are inaccurate.

For the year 2023, the Authority has consistently paid its staff on or before the last working day of the month, which is its contractual obligation. The internal memorandum referenced in a Facebook post preceded the release of salaries, which was unusually one (1) day late, that is, on Wednesday 1st March, 2023.

On the issue of children in institutional care, who may be affected by the intended proclamation of Sections 3 (1) (2), and 17 of the Children’s Community Residences, Foster Care and Nurseries Act 46:04, the Authority’s Executive Team, led by the Director (Ag.), has been working assiduously to address the matter.

Regarding non-disclosure agreements, it is to be noted that all employees have a contractual obligation to maintain confidentiality about the Authority’s affairs and the affairs of the vulnerable children and their families, whom the organisation is mandated to protect. Indeed, confidentiality requirements are not unique to organisations that treat with sensitive matters and seek the best interests of all their clients.

The Authority further advises that there is no freeze on hiring for specialised services. Hiring continues where necessary, even as the Authority works towards transforming its childservices to better protect and rehabilitate children, protect them from abuse, and significantly strengthen families and communities.

The public is therefore assured that the Authority remains committed to addressing the needs of all children and their families.

As the nation grieves for yet another time, following the actions of a few, the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago extends sincere condolences to the family, classmates and friends of six-year-old Kylie Meloney, whose life was tragically and violently taken away at the weekend.

Kylie, with her entire life ahead of her, suffered an end that no child or their family should face. These violent incidents generate trauma for adults as well as children. That trauma may manifest itself in different ways in children. Therefore, the Authority urges parents to allow their children to express their grief.

Families in Kylie’s community are urged to provide support to their children and help them process their grief and loss. Kylie’s family and friends also are encouraged to seek professional support, where necessary.

Meanwhile, the Authority is very concerned about the alarming and increasing trend of violence affecting children. Many children have suffered injuries, loss of life, abuse and neglect, as a result of violent acts committed against them by adults or among adults. This is evident by yet another incident in which a 13-year-old boy was stabbed in his eye while attempting to rescue his mother from an attack. The child, who is currently receiving treatment in hospital, will be visited by the Authority’s officers who will provide the necessary interventions following his recuperation.

As a society, we must make all efforts to protect children, reduce their risk of exposure to violence, and other dangerous situations. While this vigilance is the primary responsibility of parents and care givers, we need to use the entire village of trusted adults (parents, relatives and teachers) to ensure that child protection is everybody’s business.

The Authority urges the national community to report any incidents of violence or criminal activity which may affect the safety of a child to the Police Service at 999 or the Authority at 996.

The Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago assures the public that it remains concerned about all allegations of child abuse. Consequently, once the Authority receives an allegation relating to sexual or physical abuse at a Children’s Home, that matter is referred to the Police for criminal investigation while the Authority conducts a psycho-social investigation.

As indicated in a viral social media video, the Authority did investigate an allegation of grooming of children by a staff member at the St. Jude’s Home for Girls. This was conducted by the Licensing and Monitoring Unit. The Authority also noted the action taken by the Management of the Home to protect the children in their care.

The Authority advises that it is mandated to licence and monitor Children’s Homes and conduct regular announced and unannounced monitoring visits to the Homes. Human resource issues at the Homes are addressed exclusively by the Management and Board of each Home.

The Authority maintains its commitment to working with all Homes to ensure that they provide for the safety, security and welfare of the children in their care. Although social media provides an opportunity to share information and opinions, the Authority urges the public to maintain the privacy and anonymity of children who have been abused or are at risk of abuse.

Meanwhile, the public is reminded that any concerns about the welfare of a child should be reported to the Authority’s Hotline at 996 or to the Police at 999.

The Authority assures that it will continue to seek the best interest of children and reiterates that “Child Protection is Everybody’s Business”

The Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago has partnered with the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service, to develop a programme to assist the teenage boys at one of its Child Support Centres. This collaboration is aimed at fulfilling the Authority’s mandate of rehabilitating children who come to the attention of the Authority.

The program commenced in July 2022 and is specifically geared towards addressing the psychosocial needs of teenage boys who exhibit challenging behaviours and are deemed to be at-risk. It includes positive mentorship and reinforcement, and career guidance to allow for positive character development and growth.

In 2022, the Authority has noted an increase in the complexity of cases reported on a daily basis and the need for an all of Government approach in responding to the needs of children. More than 80 boys have been referred to the Authority for rehabilitation and this represents an increase over previous years, a trend that is of concern to the Authority.
Sharon Morris-Cummings, Director (Ag) at the Authority, expressed her gratitude to the Ministry for its collaboration and contribution which has already begun to yield positive changes in the behaviour and character of the boys.

Mrs. Morris-Cummings also commended other Ministries and Agencies including the Military Led Academic Training (MILAT) programme which continue to partner with the Authority to provide a more holistic response to the issue of child abuse in Trinidad and Tobago. She added that she was also heartened by the announcement by the Minister for Youth Development and National Service on the re-opening of the St Michaels Home for Boys which will provide a safe and rehabilitative space for boys who must be received into care.

The Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago condemns the incidents of gun violence which have left several children nursing severe gunshot injuries in recent months.
The Authority notes that the increase in gun violence within communities is a threat to the lives and safety of our country’s children. Recent reports indicate that while children were either enjoying playtime, paying respect to the dead or spending quality time with relatives, those periods of innocence, fun and everyday routines have been marred by gun violence, leaving children and their families traumatised.

These acts of violence also underscore the need for society to restore the “village” within our communities. Therefore, the Authority is appealing to the public to contact the relevant agencies including the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service if they are concerned about their safety. The gun violence pervading communities can leave parents, guardians and the country by extension, wondering how to keep children and families safe. While the Authority has been engaging the public through various mediums on how to prevent child abuse, greater dialogue and collaboration is now a necessity within communities and among agencies to determine how to stem this tide of violence and make our communities safe spaces for our children.

The Authority’s Emergency Response Team continues its outreach to affected families to provide support and the required psychosocial intervention and support. The Authority will continue to collaborate with its key stakeholders within the child protection sector to ensure the most favourable outcomes for our nation’s children.

The public is reminded to contact the following agencies for support:
• Childline: 131
• National Family Services: 623-2608 ext. 6705
• Children’s Authority: 996
• Trinidad and Tobago Police Service: 999
• Gender-Based Violence Unit: 555