Director of Social Development & Welfare Urges Responsible Behaviour Towards the Department and Children in Care

PRESS RELEASE

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: As the Director of Social Development and Welfare in the Turks and Caicos Islands, it is with great concern that I address the recent incidents of malicious behaviour and communication towards our dedicated social workers and the children in state care.

Social workers play a crucial role in our community, providing essential support and services to vulnerable children, individuals and families. It is disheartening to see that during the course of our duties, we are being targeted with accusations and harmful rumours and behaviours that not only undermine our hard work but also jeopardise the well-being of the children and vulnerable adults under our care. I urge all community members to stand in solidarity with our department and to refrain from engaging in harmful behaviours that destabilise our efforts in protecting individuals.

I wish to emphasise the importance of responsible behaviour and communication when discussing matters related to our department and the children or vulnerable adults we serve. Acting violently towards our department and engaging in malicious communication not only harms our social workers in the course of their duty and the work that this department engages in but it also has serious consequences for the individuals in our care and families who rely on our services, as well as social workers and their private lives. Social workers are the backbone of our societal ills and we work tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable children and adults in our communities. It is imperative that we recognise this and provide social workers with the support and protection that we need in order to carry out our duties responsibly and to effectively advocate for the best interests of the children and vulnerable adults we serve.

I urge all community members to exercise caution and compassion in their interactions with our department and to refrain from engaging in violent acts and sharing unverified information that can harm the reputation and effectiveness of our social services. The work that we engage in daily is sensitive and confidential, which limits our ability to discuss such matters in public forums, particularly children’s cases. Safeguarding children requires the utmost care and respect for their privacy, dignity and protection. Public discussions or speculations about specific cases are harmful and may jeopardise the safety and confidentiality of children, our fostering community and the families concerned.

We must work together to create a supportive and respectful environment for our social workers, families and the children in our care. If you have any concerns or suspicions regarding child abuse or safeguarding issues, we encourage you to reach out to the Department of Social Development and Welfare for assistance and if someone shares such concern in a public forum, I ask that you direct them to this department, which is the appropriate authority under the law. Our dedicated team is here to provide support, guidance, and intervention professionally and confidentially.

This Department tries its very best to work with parents and not against parents, however, a child’s safety will always be prioritised above all else. We have worked tirelessly over the years to strengthen our controls to safeguard children in care. Let us all work together to create a safe and supportive environment for our children that does not exploit them on public forums for personal gain but protects them during their childhood to either reunite with their natural families or to stay with their chosen families through continued fostering or adoption.

I encourage anyone with genuine concerns or feedback regarding our services to reach out to us directly so that we can address any issues constructively and transparently. We are formalising a complaints process that all persons will be welcome to utilise if they wish to share a grave concern for the work that we are doing or any other concern regarding our community. Your responsible actions and words can make a significant difference in protecting the most vulnerable members of our community.

The Department of Social Development and Welfare remains committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and care in our work, which has been entrusted to us. We are dedicated to serving the needs of our community and ensuring the well-being of all individuals, especially those who are most vulnerable.

 Thank you for your attention and cooperation in this matter.

 To report a safeguarding matter or complaint to this department, kindly see the contact information below:

MASH: 1-649-338-4013

mash@gov.tc

reportabusetci@gov.tc

Providenciales: 1-649-338-4008

Grand Turk: 1-649-338-2684

North Caicos: 1-649-338-6411/12

South Caicos: 1-649-338-6321

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