State homes to be categorised based on the needs of children - CPFSA
THE CHILD Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) is to begin categorising all 45 governmentrun and private children’s homes under its stead, based on the needs of the children in state care.
The agency noted in a release that this major initiative is one of several aimed at improving the efficiency of the organisation and the quality of service that it provides, which it will be undertaking for this upcoming financial year.
According to CEO of the CPFSA, Laurette Adams-Thomas, the categorisation of the facilities was brought to the attention of the managers of the various residential child care facilities (RCCFs) during a sensitisation meeting last December, and received positive feedback.
“We are looking forward to complete the undertaking of this project as the categorisation of these facilities will serve to streamline the level and quality of care that is provided to our children. It will also streamline the skill-set and the l evel of financial support that is needed. The categorisation will also aim further to provide statistical data that will serve to inform policy decisions that are made,” Adams-Thomas said.
“Each facility will fall under one of five categories or classifications. This will include a category for children who will require only basic support as they do not exhibit, nor are they diagnosed with any challenges, as well as other categories for children who are physically challenged, those for children with behavioural challenges, and others for children with special needs.” She continued, “We met with the managers of the facilities in December to sensitise them about this process, as well as about other upcoming changes that we have planned and also highlighted the support we will be giving to these facilities as a result of the categorisation, all of which are geared at enhancing the quality of service provided to children in state care.”
The release outlined that the categorisation process will see each of the facilities falling into one of five groups:
• Group 1 - basic support, which comprises children who do not exhibit, nor are diagnosed with any physical, mental or behavioural challenges;
• Group 2 - children who are physically challenged;
• Group 3 - children with intellectual disabilities and other special needs (autism, ADHD, etc.);
• Group 4 – children with mental, psychological and behavioural challenges;
•Group 5 – children in the agency’s Transitional Living Programme, who are on the cusp of becoming adults, and will be transitioning out of care and into independent living.
“Each group will also be further broken down into levels, for example, mild to moderate versus severe, and others will be broken down further by age,” she added.
“The CPFSA is on a mission to ‘Do More in 2024’. We are already the benchmark government-run child protection agency in the Caribbean, therefore, we are now focused on streamlining our efforts to ensure that our operations and our services are more efficient. And to offer the level of care, support and security for our children that is in line with international best practices. This will see the CPFSA gaining international recognition as a l eader within the child protection sector,” Adams-Thomas said.
The agency also sought to remind and encourage people to report any and all forms of child abuse using the 24-hour child abuse reporting hotline 211. She also noted that child abuse reports may be made through WhatsApp/ text at 876-878-2882, e-mail report@ childprotection.gov.jm, by visiting any CPFSA parish office, or through its social media pages (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) @ cpfsajm.