Children’s Authority assures two girls at State homes weren’t impregnated by staff

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Children’s Authority assures two girls at State homes weren’t impregnated by staff

The Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago has assured that the staff members at children’s homes are not responsible for the pregnancies of two teenagers at the facilities.

This follows reports that two underage girls at State homes are pregnant.

The Children’s Authority said in a statement that the two girls in question were already pregnant when they were brought to the Authority for placement and, as such, police reports were made at the time.

Additionally, the Authority said two children’s homes, specifically designated for pregnant teens, have provided them with care and intervention to prepare them for motherhood.

The Authority admitted, however, that over the past eight years, there have been two instances where girls became pregnant while they were still residents of the children’s homes.

The Authority said investigations were carried out and it was determined that no staff member of the homes was responsible for the girls becoming pregnant and the matters were reported to the police.

The Children’s Authority also pointed out that it does not manage the operations of children’s homes, adding it is the responsibility of the board of each residential facility,

The Children’s Authority of T&T falls under the remit of the Office of the Prime Minister, Gender and Child Affairs Division headed by Minister Ayanna Webster-Roy.