Government of Jamaica
CD Mental Health Service Providers Benefit from Donated Assessment Tools
Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck (centre) and Permanent Secretary, Mrs Grace Ann Stewart McFarlane (left) receive donation of psycho-educational assessment tools handed over by UNICEF Country Representative, Ms Olga Isaza (right).
Kingston, Jamaica. The Ministry of Justice’s Child Diversion (CD) Programme is set to deliver more efficient mental health services to youths referred to the Programme after receiving a donation of psycho-educational assessment tools from UNICEF.
The donation made at a handover event held at the Ministry on August 21, 2023, will assist Mental Health Service Providers (MHSPs) currently engaged in the CD Programme in their assessment. These assessments will ascertain key areas to confirm or refute the presence or absence of mental, behavioural, emotional or personality disorders that may have influenced the enrolment of clients in the Programme.
Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, commended UNICEF for its continued support for the Child Diversion Programme. “From its very inception, UNICEF has supported the Child Diversion Programme. When the Programme began, there were a number of sensitization sessions arranged across the island where UNICEF representatives were always present, which is proof of the organization’s support for the Programme.”
Highlighting the Programme’s successes he continued, “We have trained over 300 mentors for the Child Diversion Programme and impacted over 1,000 children across the island. This Programme has been a success story because the success is tangible. After the period of counselling and mentorship youths are discharged from the Programme and their maturity is evident.”
Country Representative for UNICEF Jamaica, Olga Isaza spoke highly of the CD Programme and committed UNICEF’s support to the programme’s success. “We are here to strengthen the Child Diversion Programme. We trust in this Programme. The Programme has been very successful and we are here to help systematize the Programme and help communicate the great work,” said Ms Isaza.
The assessment tools received include the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V) Test, The Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) Test, and Behaviour Assessment System for Children (BASC) and the Beck Youth Inventories – Second Edition. All resources will be used for the assessment of children within the age group targeted by the CD Programme, which is 12 – 17 years old.
The Child Diversion Programme implemented in 2020, employs a cadre of over 20 trained Mental Health Service Providers who afford individual and family psycho-educational assessment to allow for targeted interventions to help divert them from the formal justice system. The donated resources will also be used by the Victim Services (VS) and Restorative Justice (RJ) Branches for the assessment of children served by the Ministry.
Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck (centre) and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs Grace Ann Stewart McFarlane (second left) are joined by Director (Acting) Child Diversion Programme, Ms Venisa Clarke (left) and Principal Director Social Justice, Ms Jamie – Ann Chevannes (right) to receive assessment tools to the Child Diversion Programme donated by UNICEF Country Representative Ms Olga Isaza (second right).
