KINGSTON, Jamaica — Parents and caregivers in Bartons and Newton, St Elizabeth say they are feeling more confident, supported and hopeful after participating in a recent parenting session hosted by the Children First Agency (CFA) in partnership with UNICEF Jamaica.

Many described the workshop as a much-needed space to reconnect, share openly and gain practical tools to help them nurture their children while recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Melissa.

The session, titled “From Surviving to Thriving”, focused on positive parenting, stress management, child protection, and healthy communication. Led by counsellor and long-time educator, Dionne Levy, the workshop explored how stress and unprocessed emotions can influence parenting styles and family relationships.

Levy shared techniques, including self-regulation, self-care and self-compassion, to help caregivers strengthen their emotional well-being and foster healthy connections with their children.

Counsellor, Dionne Levy interacting with a parent during her presentation at the Parenting Session held in Bartons, St. Elizabeth.

The impact was immediately visible, as parents voiced how meaningful and encouraging the session was.

Kaydia Wright, a single mother of three, described the workshop as uplifting.

“I liked everything about the session, especially when Aunty Dionne had the group counselling. After Melissa, most parents lost their roofs and are still trying to pick up the pieces. Being engaged like this gives peace of mind and takes some of the stress off, even for a day. Sessions like these motivate parents and teach us practical ways to support our children and ourselves,” Wright said.

The CFA’s group-based facilitation model encourages caregivers to reflect on their parenting practices, share experiences and propose solutions together which creates a supportive, non-judgmental environment that promotes positive behaviour change. This approach strengthens protective parenting practices, reduces violence risks and supports community recovery following the storm.

“Without coordinated support, many parents will keep parenting the way they were parented and this means sometimes using harmful methods without realising it,” said Claudette Richardson Pious, executive director of the Children First Agency. “We urge government and civil society partners to scale up accessible support for parents, especially those affected by Hurricane Melissa.”

Executive Director of Children First Agency, Claudette Richardson-Pious

“As communities rebuild after Hurricane Melissa, UNICEF is focused on ensuring that children are surrounded by stable, supported caregivers. Our partnership with CFA helps families strengthen positive parenting skills and create safe, nurturing environments where children can heal, learn and thrive,” said Olga Isaza, UNICEF Jamaica representative.

The Bartons and Newton workshop is the first in a series of parenting sessions being rolled out as part of a wider psychosocial recovery initiative led by CFA in partnership with UNICEF Jamaica. The project also receives support from the United States and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Olga Isaza, UNICEF Jamaica representative

The initiative builds on CFA’s earlier work, including the Social Justice (SO JUST) Project, which delivered training on positive discipline, communication and trauma informed care, and the Spotlight Initiative, which strengthened gender responsive parenting and established the Parenting League support group.

Caregivers across Jamaica can also access help through the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC) which operates parent places, the parenting support helpline and the parent mentorship programme.