A 24-hour dedicated helpline has been established to assist children and teenagers experiencing challenges or who may be feeling overwhelmed with adapting to changes caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The facility, the Safe Spot National Child and Teen Helpline, is a multisectoral initiative involving the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Jamaica Office,...

The National Children’s Registry (NCR) is reporting that fewer reports of child abuse have been recorded during the COVID-19 period, when compared to the prior years. Before 2020, there were, on average, 1,200 reports of child abuse per month, while in 2020 and 2021 there have been between 800 and 900 reports per month. Approximately 90,000 reports of child abuse...

The National Child Month Committee (NCMC), in partnership with several stakeholders, will host the second staging of its ‘Pickney Party 2.0’, on National Children’s Day, Friday, May 21, starting at 2:00 p.m. Through a virtual presentation on the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) YouTube page, this Child Month talent series will give children age six to 17 the opportunity to depict...

A total of 6,000 young people will be engaged under the Youth Summer Employment Programme (YSEP) this year. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said that the new cohort will begin the programme in August and will be paid $40,000. “The municipal corporations and the Social Development Commission (SDC) will play key roles in the selection...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Robert Morgan says the Ministry is seeking to include the voice of the youth in the decision making process. “A big part of the conversation taking place … is the importance of the youth voice in our society,” Mr. Morgan said. He was speaking at a press conference...

Executive Director of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), Dr. Christine Hendricks, says parents of children with disabilities are able to access the Council’s Economic Empowerment grant to assist in the maintenance of a disabled child. The grant can be up to $150,000 for a person with a disability to start his or her own business. “We have...

Regional Director of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency’s (CPFSA) north-east region, Carolyn Stewart, says that persons who have responsibility for the treatment or care of minors have a duty to report known or suspected cases of child abuse. “These are persons who, by virtue of their employment, have to treat children. So all the guidance counsellors, teachers, doctors,...