CHILDREN’S AUTHORITY’S CHAIRMAN TO SPEAK AT WORLD FORUM IN PANAMA

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.

Children’s Authority Assures Its Operations Are Effective

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.

CHILDREN’S AUTHORITY CONCERNED ABOUT INCREASE IN VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN

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.

All Reports of Abuse at Children’s Homes Investigated by Children’s Authority

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”

Children’s Authority & IDB Partner to Establish Digital Corner at Eastern Boys Government Primary & Raise Awareness about Child Safety

The Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (CATT), in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), is set to impact the learning and digital access of 250 boys attending Eastern Boys Government Primary School with the establishment of a digital corner. CATT and IDB launched the digital corner October 31 at the Eastern Boys’ Government Primary School in Port-of-Spain and provided the keen students with laptop computers. The Digital Corner is in keeping with IDB’s new country strategy for Trinidad and Tobago which seeks to improve the business environment to enable digital transformation, enhance the delivery of services and importantly, improve educational outcomes and digital skills in the country.

Sergio Rios, Chief of Operation at IDB stated he hoped the students will continue to learn and develop more online skills but he stressed that more children needed to be aware of the challenges of the internet including cyberbullying, identity theft and the misuse of information. He said the expectation was that children will learn to utilise the power of technology but they should navigate the online world safely.

The Digital Corner was part of a larger project, sponsored by IDB and executed by CATT and aimed at creating awareness on online safety and particularly online grooming. The campaign also sought to teach children and the general public to recognise the strategies used by perpetrators and groomers, stimulate behavioural change against cultural norms of physical and sexual abuse and educate children on taking action to prevent and report abuse. Kitty Al Hosein-Garcia, Member of the Authority’s Board of Management said that this initiative brought the boys a step closer to fully exercising their right to an education while utilising technological tools. She hopes that the digital tools will result in improved teaching and eventual success in their studies. She added, “At the Children’s Authority, we believe that every child should live to see their full potential. Therefore, a child can only do so when they are protected from harm and neglect, when they are given the tools and resources required to succeed and when they are no longer recognised as the voiceless within our society and can exercise their right to be heard!” In alignment with IDB’s country strategy on digital transformation, both teachers and students will receive training to use the devices by the Authority’s Information Technology Unit.

About the Children’s Authority

Established in 2015, the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago seeks to promote the best interest of children through advocacy, prevention, intervention and collaborative strategies based on multidisciplinary approaches. The Authority seeks to defend and support child rights and make child protection everybody’s business. Since 2015, the Authority has received and dealt with more than 31,000 reports of abuse in Trinidad and Tobago.

 

PHOTOS ATTACHED

• 7501951 – From left to right: Kitty Al Hosein-Garcia, Member of the Board of Management of the Children’s Authority, Sergio Rios, IDB’s Chief of Operation makes the presentation to Gillian Frank, Teacher I at the Eastern Boy’s Government Primary School.

• 7502002 – Students of the Easten Boy’s Government Primary School use the laptops provided at the school’s Digital Corner.

 

At-Risk Boys at Children’s Authority Child Support Centre receive Psychosocial Support from Ministry of Youth Development & National Services

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.

Violence Threatening the Safety and Lives of our Children

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

Children’s Authority Equipped with Mobile Units

September 13, 2022

The Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago has gone ‘mobile!’

With the support of Republic Bank through its Power to Make a Difference Program, the Authority’s community outreach initiative, has received a timely boost with the donation of two (2) buses, one for use in Trinidad and one for use in Tobago. This will enable the Authority to have a greater presence in communities across Trinidad and Tobago, to receive reports of abuse and to sensitise communities on child abuse prevention.

Facilitating the handover of the buses were the Honourable Ayanna Webster-Roy, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister – Gender and Child Affairs, Dr. Carol Logie, Chairman of the Board of Management, Sharon Morris-Cummings Director Acting at the Children’s Authority and Preston George, General Manager, Group Human Resources and Auriol Small, Area Manager, Tobago from Republic Bank.

The Authority’s Chairman, Dr. Carol Logie welcomed the support of Republic Bank and expressed the hope that this gesture will encourage other like-minded corporate sponsors to collaborate with the Authority and to assist in furthering its mandate, bearing in mind that ‘child protection is everybody’s business’.

Sharon Morris-Cummings, thanking Republic Bank for its contribution, said the buses will assist in strengthening the Authority’s public education programmes to empower children, their families and communities in fighting the scourge of child abuse. In this regard, she said it was critical that the Authority’s reach beyond social media and traditional media was strengthened to effectively engage underserved communities on anti-child abuse messages and information on strengthening the care and protection mechanisms for children.

 

From Right to Left: The Honourable Ayanna Webster-Roy, Minister in the Office of the Prime
Minister, Gender and Child Affairs, Preston George, General Manager, Group Human Resources from
Republic Bank Limited, Dr. Carol Logie, Chairman of the Board of Management and Sharon Morris-Cummings, Director Acting of the Children’s Authority.

 

Media Release

The Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago is saddened by the death of 7-year-old McKenzie Hope Rechia, who was found at her home in Palo Seco last week Friday.

The Authority received a report with respect to the child and the case management process was initiated. In addition, a report was sent to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.

While the circumstances surrounding the child’s death are still under investigation, the Authority will continue to work with its partners in the child protection system, to optimise care and protection of the nation’s children.

Children’s Authority Endorses U-Report Tool To Obtain Views Of Nation’s Youth

The Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago joins the call by the Minister of Gender and Child Affairs, Ayanna Webster-Roy and UNICEF, and encourages the youth across the country to use the social messaging tool U-Report. Developed by UNICEF, U-Report provides a valuable platform for the voice of the youth, connecting and empowering them as they speak on and exchange information about issues that matter to them.

U-Report is a free social monitoring tool for community participation, designed to address issues that young people care about. According to UNICEF, this mobile empowerment programme connects young people all over the world to information that will change their lives and influence their decisions.

Through U-Report, youth can provide valuable information when reporting on what’s happening in their communities, and with it help improve their own lives and that of their peers and families. Polls and alerts are sent out to U-Reporters and real-time response information is collected. Results and ideas are shared back with the community.1 The U-Report WhatsApp number is 296-7723.

Sharon Morris-Cummings, acting Director of the Authority said: “The increasing incidents of violence against children, the number of children being brought before the Courts for reasons including challenging behaviours, and the increasing number of children with mental health issues, all speak to some of the sensitive and traumatic experiences of our children. Providing more and better opportunities for them to have their voices heard, can only redound to the national benefit.”

The Authority will continue to advocate for the voice of the child and welcomes all initiatives aimed at giving children a voice so they can achieve their full potential. Their voice is critical in identifying challenges and creating solutions for the complex issues which confront them. Therefore, the Authority commends the use of this platform which in effect amplifies the opportunities for the voice of the child to be heard.

The public is reminded that concerns about the care and protection of children should be reported to the Authority’s Hotline at 996 or the Police at 999.