KINGSTON, Jamaica —The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) has removed all five babies who were previously abandoned by their parents at the Spanish Town Hospital.

According to a release from the CPFSA, the agency has secured the relevant court orders for the children. Two of the babies were placed in familial environments through the agency’s Foster Care programme, while a third baby, who has special needs, was placed at a facility that specifically caters to such needs. The other two babies are under the direct supervision of the State at a CPFSA nursery as they have matters before the court.

CPFSA Chief Executive Officer Laurette Adams Thomas said each of the five cases had unique factors that led to a delay in placement.

“While there is no law or official protocol for the timeframe in which a child can remain at a hospital, which is a place of safety, we acknowledge that the babies were left in the care of the hospital for longer than we would have desired. There is no single factor related to the delay in placement that is applicable to all five cases. Placement decisions are influenced by the availability of appropriate spaces for the needs of the child, especially those with medical and other special needs; the availability of foster families who are able to meet the individual needs of a child; and case-specific legal or family circumstances, including family tracing,” she said.

“The agency continues to pursue both family-based and residential placement options as appropriate. We are therefore appealing to well-thinking Jamaicans who have the resources to come forward and make themselves available to help us fill the shortfall in the number of required foster parents,” she continued.

The CEO further stated that the agency is actively working to ensure that children who remain in hospitals are placed in secure and loving environments as soon as they become available. CPFSA officers maintain follow-up on active cases involving children in hospitals and also provide material support to the hospitals to assist with the care of these children.