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CALL 649-338-4008 OR 649-338-2684 IF A CHILD IS AT RISK: TCI Confronts Alarming Reality During Child Abuse Prevention Month
06PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands — The Turks and Caicos Islands, a small British Overseas Territory though it is, is grappling with an unsettling truth: levels of physical and psychological violence against children remain alarmingly high.
Recent regional findings place the country among the most concerning in the Caribbean, with data showing that eight to nine out of
It is a reality the Department of Family and Children Services is not taking lightly.
As the country marks Child Abuse Prevention Month 2026 under the theme “Positive Childhoods Start with Us,” officials are pushing beyond awareness and into action.
Director of DFCS, Ashley Adams Forbes, said changing that reality requires action from the entire community.
“Positive childhoods are not guaranteed—they are built when communities choose to show up for families and protect their children. When we listen, when we care, and when we speak up for a child in need, we may be changing the course of a life.”
Minister with responsibility for DFCS, Shaun D. Malcolm, warned that the consequences of inaction extend beyond individual families.
“Protecting our children is the most urgent duty we share as a nation. When any child is unsafe, our entire society is at risk.”
But beyond the messaging and observances, the Department is making it clear: residents have a role to play — and the tools to act.
Contact lines are open for those who suspect abuse, neglect or risk:
- Providenciales: 649-338-4008
- Grand Turk: 649-338-2684
Officials say even uncertainty should not silence action — reporting concerns can be the first step in protecting a child.
Across the islands, the call is for stronger families, more attentive communities and a willingness to intervene when something is not right. Because while policies and programmes matter, it is often the decisions made in homes, schools and neighbourhoods that determine whether a child feels safe — or suffers in silence.
The message this April is clear.
Positive childhoods do not happen by chance.
They are built — or broken — by the choices adults make every day.
And in Turks and Caicos, the moment to choose differently is now.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.