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Child who survived St. Ann house fire out of school since September - CPFSA

Laurette Adams-Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of the CPFSA
By Racquel Porter    
 
The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) is reporting that the five-year-old boy who survived Sunday's fire in Walkerswood, St. Ann has not been attending school since September.
 
The boy's three siblings died in the blaze.
 
His grandmother who was in another section of the house with him also escaped injury.
 
The CPFSA says the child's absence from school was uncovered following an assessment.
 
The agency is encouraging parents or guardians who need assistance in sending their children to school to contact its office within their parish.
 
Chief Executive Officer of the CPFSA, Laurette Adams-Thomas, says caregivers who seek assistance will be referred to its Child and Family Support Unit which provides targeted support to vulnerable children and families.
 
Mrs. Adams-Thomas says the CPFSA does not prioritise seeking sanctions through the court against parents who are unable to send their children to school due to financial constraints. Instead, she says the agency focuses on offering assistance and support to help ensure children can attend school.
 
Meanwhile, the CPFSA says it remains committed to providing ongoing support to the child to ensure his safety and welfare are maintained in the aftermath of the tragedy. 
 
"We have also referred the child to the Ministry of Justice's Victim Services Division to ensure that he receives the psychological support needed to help him cope with this profound loss. Our Child and Family Support Unit is providing psychosocial support to the surviving child. This will include assisting with replacing essential items such as clothing, school uniforms and important documents. We will also be ensuring that the child is returned to school when he is psychologically ready," said Mrs. Adams-Thomas.
 
The CPFSA has also arranged for the child's temporary placement with his paternal family in the same community.
 
In the meantime, the Jamaica Fire Brigade said the country could know later on Tuesday the cause of the blaze.
 
The children's grandmother reported that the house had no electricity and was being lit by lamps. 
 
A senior investigator told Radio Jamaica News on Monday that the police will be seeking guidance from the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether the children's mother should be charged for negligence in relation to the fire.
 


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