IN January 2024, the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (CATT) reported 560 cases of child abuse, surpassing the monthly average for 2023. These alarming statistics highlight the urgent need for enhanced service training interventions within the child-care sector, as emphasised by the findings of the 2021 Judith Jones report, which called for stronger measures to safeguard children in child-care centres across the nation.
In response to this pressing issue, the Department of Behavioural Sciences at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), St Augustine, in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and the CATT, partnered to launch a comprehensive training programme in May 2023. This initiative aimed to optimise the service quality of residential care workers in Trinidad and Tobago.
The professional development programme targeted residential workers, equipping 100 registered participants with core training in first aid, professional ethics, and self-care. The training utilised reflections, case studies, oral presentations, and simulations to enhance related competencies.
Participants were divided into two groups based on their knowledge gaps, sector changes, and the training objectives. The first group consisted of residential managers and administrative personnel responsible for efficiently operating the homes. They were exposed to key concepts and techniques in organisational leadership, conflict management, and case management, with the primary goal of equipping them to address emerging issues mindfully.
The second group included residential caregivers, who received training on child rights, child sexual violence, traumatic experiences, and issues faced by marginalised groups. This training was key to ensuring that workers could recognise and respond to children and youth in distress.
After three months of training, over 70 participants graduated with enhanced knowledge and strengthened professional ties. Most participants found the training beneficial and called for its expansion to cover more individuals working in the sector.
While this type of intervention is needed to protect children and young persons in Trinidad and Tobago, more is needed. As highlighted in the Judith Jones report, continuous efforts in policy, interventions, and advocacy are necessary to safeguard the nation’s vulnerable children.
PROGRAMME CREATOR: Dr Talia Esnard
Dr Talia Esnard, head of the Department of Behavioural Sciences at The UWI, emphasised the department’s commitment to this cause and to work in solidarity with other stakeholders in the sector to build a cohort of Child Protection Champions who are trained to serve and to become agents of change.
Moving forward, the team plans to continue such training, with refresher courses for previous cohorts, and with opportunities broaden the scope and reach to sustain the proficiency and motivation of residential care workers in Trinidad and Tobago..
This collaborative effort by the OPM, The UWI’s Department of Behavioural Sciences, and the CATT represents an important step in safeguarding the nation’s children and youth. Through sustained public-private partnerships, the team has conducted thorough evaluations of the initial training programme and reviewed the child protection landscape to identify gaps and opportunities for further intervention. As the programme continues to evolve, the ultimate goal is to ensure that meaningful and sustained training interventions are in place to protect and safeguard our children and youth.
• Alyssa Balgobin is a second-year Economics student in the Faculty of Social Sciences at The University of the West Indies, St Augustine.
This article is based on a recent interview with Dr Talia Esnard, the creator of the programme and head of the Department of Behavioural Sciences at The UWI, St Augustine.