AMID an upsurge in cases of child abuse, especially child sexual abuse, coming out of Region 10, the Blossom Inc. NGO thought it necessary to establish a child advocacy centre in Linden.

The objective of the centre is to provide needed services to the child and parents, so that they can heal from the trauma they would have experienced and be reintegrated into society.

The centre is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection, Region 10 and operates only upon referrals from the ministry. Its staff is trained in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) and is able to professionally provide the counselling needed for the children.

In addition to providing trauma therapy, Blossom Inc. collaborates with other stake holders such as the Linden Hospital Complex Social Workers and the ‘E’ Division Police Force, where team decisions are made about investigation, treatment, management and prosecution of child sexual abuse, emotional abuse – such as neglect and extreme physical abuse cases. Forensic interview and victim support services will also be provided to the affected children and their families.

Region 10 counsellor, Mellissa Chapman, related that there continues to be an upsurge in child abuse cases coming out of the region, and such services provided by Blossom Inc., are indeed necessary. Chapman holds a degree in sociology and with her TF-CBT training, she is able to bring relief to many children and their families. “To help them with whatever traumatic experiences they would have experienced and to help them reintegrate into their family, get back into their social life, because when children go through traumatic experiences, it can be really difficult for them…so this counselling helps them to overcome all of these things.” Chapman said, citing behavioural changes such as low performance at school, withdrawal etc. She also provides court support for children, so that abusers can face the full brunt of the law.

Chapman said that putting a smile on the face of a broken child is her passion and she will continue to provide the needed support to the children. “It has always been my passion to help people and it brings joy to me that I can make a change, not only to the child but to the parent, because it can be hard for the parent to deal with whatever traumatic experience the child may have encountered. For 2019, nine cases have already been referred to the advocacy centre.

Statistics show that for 2017, Region 10 had the highest rate of child abuse. The Child Protection Agency (CPA), recorded a total of 4,179 cases of child abuse. Region 10 reflected 22.1 per cent per 1,000 children. That means that in every thousand children, 15 are being abused, every two hours a child is abused and every day, 11 children are abused. Chapman noted that more cases are being handled at the child advocacy centre that was commissioned in May, last year.

The centre allows abused children to relay their experiences only once, at an interview where representatives from all the necessary agencies are present. These include a forensic interviewer, police officer, doctor, relative, welfare officer and whoever else is needed in the process to allow for justice to take its course.