Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher has expressed support for a move by the Children’s Authority to bolster child protection services across Trinidad and Tobago through digitalisation.
The Authority has embarked on a transformative journey towards digitalisation, collaborating closely with partners in the child protection system.
Recently, the authority conducted a comprehensive training session in partnership with the National Family Services Division of the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services.
Commenting on the development, Commissioner Harewood-Christopher said: “This is an excellent initiative. This system would ensure that no child is left behind.”
She said child protection requires a multi-disciplinary approach with all government agencies and other institutions.
“The digitalisation means that information relative to children would be readily available and accessible in one place. This would definitely add to and enhance the efforts of police investigations of cases involving children,” she said.
In a statement, the authority said the focus of the training was on the operations of the Primero Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS+), a cutting-edge web-based platform designed to streamline case processing, including registration, assessments, and referrals.
Sheldon Cyrus, Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, emphasised the significance of this technological advancement, saying, “In this technological age, we are moving away from a paper-based environment to a digital platform that will bolster the services provided to children and their families.”
He highlighted the system’s capacity to facilitate seamless information sharing among relevant stakeholder agencies, enabling timely and targeted interventions.
Staff members of the National Family Services Division, who underwent the training, expressed optimism about the initiative’s potential impact. They lauded the anticipated reduction in response time to cases, acknowledging that such collaborative efforts are essential in fulfilling their mission.
The Primero CPIMS+, established in Trinidad and Tobago through the UNICEF-EU Spotlight Initiative, represents a secure and comprehensive solution for caseworkers.
It empowers them with a holistic view of each child they serve, enabling informed decision-making regarding the most suitable interventions tailored to their specific needs.