THE Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF) is reaffirming its national commitment to adolescent mothers with the staging of its inaugural Empowered Futures Parenting Symposium, scheduled for Friday, May 9 at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston.

The event forms part of Jamaica’s Child Month observance and will spotlight WCJF’s ongoing mission to empower teen mothers through education, psychosocial care, and parenting support.

As Jamaica commemorates Child Month under the theme ‘Act Now! Stand Against Child Abuse and Exploitation’, WCJF’s symposium will emphasise the vital connection between positive parenting and child protection, particularly for young mothers managing the dual responsibilities of adolescence and motherhood. The symposium will bring together adolescent mothers from all 13 WCJF sites islandwide for a day of expert-led discussions and interactive sessions which will explore positive parenting techniques, child development and safety, emotional wellness and self-care, relationship building, and family dynamics. A concurrent play therapy session for infants will also be held, using guided activities to reinforce early learning, motor development, and parent-child bonding.

Debby-Ann Brown Salmon, chairman of WCJF’s board of directors, underscoring the significance of the event explained that “parenting is not meant to be done in isolation”.

“Through education, mentorship, and the right support systems, we are equipping young mothers to raise strong, healthy children while building a better future for themselves,” she said.

As Child Month progresses, Executive Director Novlette Howell is extending an open invitation to partners, stakeholders, and the wider public to support the foundation‘s thrust to instil positive parenting skill in the nation’s adolescent mothers.

“This parenting symposium is more than an event — it is a call to action. Every young mother deserves the opportunity to succeed, and every child deserves the best start in life. At the Women’s Centre, we remain committed to nurturing both dreams and potential, one family at a time. We are especially excited to continue taking this initiative into communities across the island, even beyond Child Month,” Howell said.

Since its establishment in 1978, WCJF has served more than 50,000 adolescent mothers, providing continued education, psychosocial support, parenting training, and school reintegration services. WCJF operates under the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, and remains a national leader in supporting adolescent mothers through education, reintegration and counselling.