Top things to know
- CPFSA removed five abandoned babies from Spanish Town Hospital after securing court orders.
- Two babies were placed in foster care, one with special needs went to a specialized facility, and two are at a state nursery.
- CEO Laurette Adams Thomas cited legal delays and foster care shortages, prompting an appeal for more foster parents.
The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) has successfully removed five infants who were previously abandoned at Spanish Town Hospital. After securing the necessary court orders, the agency distributed the children into various care environments based on their specific circumstances. Two of the infants entered family settings through the Foster Care programme, one child with special needs was transferred to a specialized facility, and the final two babies remain at a CPFSA nursery under direct state supervision due to ongoing legal matters.
CPFSA Chief Executive Officer Laurette Adams Thomas noted that individual case factors contributed to the placement timeline. While hospitals serve as safe spaces, there is no official protocol dictating how long a child can remain in one. The agency cited challenges such as legal delays and a shortage of available foster spaces, prompting an active public appeal for more foster parents to help address the ongoing shortfall.