May 1, 2018:
In celebration of Child Month, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) will be undertaking several island wide activities, under the theme “A.F.FI.R.M Me”.
Emphasising the theme, CPFSA’s Public Relations Manager, Rochelle Dixon said that every year the Agency pause to celebrate the nation’s children by engaging them in a series of islandwide activities, and this year is no different, as the focus is to empower them through a combined effort with several stakeholders, while carrying out advocacy and public education initiatives to tackle child abuse.
The month-long observance began with a press launch on Tuesday, May 1, at the Agency’s Corporate Office, 48 Duke Street in Downtown, Kingston; and will continue with a Fire Prevention road show & campaign launch on Friday, May 4, in Mandeville town. This initiative will be executed jointly with the Jamaica Fire Brigade to heighten awareness about fire prevention and will be ongoing throughout the month.
On Sunday, May 6, representatives from the Agency will be out in their numbers at the National Church Service, being held at the William Knibb Memorial Baptist Church in Falmouth, Trelawny, starting at 9:30 a.m. The service is being organised by the National Child Month Committee.
Also, staff from the Agency will participate in National Read Across Jamaica Day, on Tuesday, May 8, which will see them revisiting their Alma Maters and reading to children.
The Agency will also use the opportunity to highlight the foster care programme through the Susan Show, which will be filmed on Wednesday, May 9, and aired at a date and venue to be announced.
Other activities include the launch of the Agency’s Paediatric Pulse Booklet at the Courtleigh Hotel, Summerset Suite on Thursday, May 10; and continuation of the Fire Prevention Road Show & Campaign in Sam Sharpe Square on Friday, May 11, at 2:00 p.m.
There will also be several child protection community walkthroughs, with the fist happening in Craighead, Christiana, Manchester. This initiative will be led by the Agency’s Southern Region; which comprises Manchester, Clarendon and St. Elizabeth, starting at 10:00 a.m.
The activities will also see State Minister for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green; and CPFSA’s CEO, Mrs. Rosalee Gage-Grey in action, preparing breakfast for children at the Glenhope Nursery, located at 89 Maxfield Avenue in Kingston. This venture will be carried out with the assistance of chef, Jacqui Tyson.
In recognition of National Children’s Day (May 18), the CPFSA will host its Child Management Day, which will provide children with an opportunity to manage portfolios of business professionals, including Minister Green, CDA’s executive management team and residential childcare facilities across the islandwide. Persons are being asked to wear yellow, as a show of solidarity on this day.
On Labour Day (May 23), a work day is planned at the Walker’s Place of Safety at 17 Lyndhurst Crescent in Kingston. Work is set to commence at 9:00 a.m., as part of the rebuilding effort.
Also, the second staging of the Ananda Alert Missing Children’s Forum, is
scheduled to take place at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Downtown, Kingston, on Friday, May 25, commencing at 9:00 a.m.
To conclude the activities, the CPFSA and Nathan Ebanks Foundation have partnered to host the second Special Needs and Family Resource Expo, catering to the needs of children with disabilities, their families and the wider community.
Other events will be held throughout the month, as well as on-going public education activities and media opportunities to amplify awareness about child abuse and protection.
Miss Dixon is encouraging the Jamaican populous to exercise greater vigilance in the care and protection of all children throughout child month and onwards; and importantly, to report all known or suspected cases of child abuse to the CPFSA’s National Children’s Registry at 1-888-PROTECT, or any Parish Office by calling 948-2841-2.
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