The Child Protection and Family Services Agency, CPFSA, has indicated that significant progress was made in its drive to support and protect children living and working on the nation’s streets.

This was done through the Street and Working Children Initiative.

The intervention was launched last June in eight high-priority communities across the island.

These include Yallahs in St. Thomas; Majesty Gardens in Kingston; Old Harbour in St. Catherine; Rocky Point in Clarendon; Parry Town and Ocho Rios in St. Ann; Port Maria in St. Mary; and Retirement in St. James.

The campaign is being executed by Mobak Limited, a community development organisation contracted by the CPFSA.

The initiative is a direct response to findings from a 2020 study commissioned by the CPFSA, which revealed that children as young as five years old were actively engaged in street hustling and vending.

The study identified over 300 children who were living and/or working on the streets across nine parishes.

These children were often exposed to exploitation, abuse, and limited access to education, stemming primarily from poverty, family breakdown and systemic neglect.

Since its launch, the “Fi Wi Pickney” intervention has reached 170 children across the identified communities.

Of these, 115 received counselling support, 130 were referred to other state agencies for further assistance, and 21 have been reintegrated into the formal school system.

Additionally, over 245 families have been assisted through counselling, social welfare support, and guidance to re-enroll their children in school.

About 160 community outreach sessions have also been conducted to promote child protection and parenting best practices.

Chief Executive Officer of the CPFSA, Laurette Adams Thomas said the initiative is already having a visible impact in the targeted communities.

Mrs. Adams Thomas emphasised that the initiative is part of the CPFSA’s broader effort to reduce the number of children entering state care.

Meantime, Chief Executive Officer of Mobak Limited, Mobafa Baker, described the work as transformational for families who were previously overlooked.

Building on the success of the first phase, the CPFSA is preparing to implement Phase Two of the Street and Working Children Initiative in new communities.