Govt On Psycho-Educational Programme
The Government has provided additional information on the Psycho-Educational Programme, the total number of youth that were sent to overseas psycho-educational care facilities, the costs and more.
The Minister of Social Development and Seniors Tinee Furbert said, “All children who receive the funding of the Psycho-Educational Programme present with profound challenges that are not able to be met here on island through local services alone.
“If local public and private services and families are able to meet these children’s needs, then application to the Psycho-Educational Committee for approval for Psycho-Educational funding would not be sought for them to receive treatment and services in overseas programmes and assessment facilities.
“All applications for Psycho-Educational funding undergo scrutiny to verify that all local resources have been exhausted. The Committee consists of representatives from the Department of Child and Family Services, Ministry of Education, and Child and Adolescent Services.
“Once a child is placed in a facility, their family is encouraged to maintain regular contact with them. The Department of Child and Family Services remains in constant contact via in-person and video visits made by the Director or a Department representative.
“The care and protection of children remains paramount for the Department of Child and Family Services.”
Minister Furbert concluded, “During the annual Budget Debate, the Government of Bermuda publicly shares in great detail how the budget for the Department of Child and Family Services is being accounted for and this includes the Psycho-Educational Programme.
“Senator Lindsay Simmons answered all of the questions that were presented by Senator Robin Tucker in written format through the Senate. There were additional questions presented by Senator Robin Tucker that were technical in nature, and the data was not on hand for Senator Lindsay Simmons to reference.
Please see answers below.”
Q1. Would the Junior Minister please inform the Senate as to the total number of children and youth that were sent to overseas psycho-educational care facilities over each of the Fiscal Years ended 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, and the total overall cost to Government in each of those fiscal years for the overseas psycho-educational care programme?
“It should be noted that the Psycho-Educational Care budget is inclusive of overseas therapeutic services, and education, medical services inclusive of psychiatric services, travel including the cost of medical ambulatory services, and medications, and the client’s basic needs such as clothing, and outings.
- “Fiscal Year 2019, which is between April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019 there were ten [10] clients sent to overseas psycho-educational care facilities. During this same period of time Government overall costs was two million, twenty-eight thousand, seven hundred, and one dollar, and ninety cents [$2,028,701.90].
- “For Fiscal Year 2020, from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020 two [2] clients were sent to overseas facilities. Two million, three hundred and forty-six thousand, four hundred and sixty-six dollars and fifty-six cents [$2,346.466.56] was the total Psycho-Ed budget.
- “From April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021, that makes up Fiscal Year 2021, one [1] client was sent to an overseas facility. During this same period of time the total cost to the Government for the Psycho-Ed Programme was eight hundred and sixty-six thousand, six hundred and eighty-seven dollars and twelve cents.
- “Seven [7] clients were sent to overseas facilities during Fiscal Year 2022, which starts April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. Six hundred and thirty-six thousand dollars, nine hundred and twenty-two dollars, and thirty cents [$636,922.30] was the total cost incurred by the Government for the Psych-Ed Programme as stated the Budget Book.
Q2. Would the Junior Minister please inform the Senate as to the total number of visits that have been made by the Director and Staff of the Department of Child and Family Services to conduct welfare checks on the Bermuda children and youth that were sent to overseas psycho-educational care facilities over each of the Fiscal Years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022?
“The total number of face to face welfare checks completed by the Department of Child and Family Services on the Bermuda clients sent to overseas psycho-educational care facilities from Fiscal Year 2019 to 2022 are as follows:-
- “Fiscal Year 2019, which starts April 1 2018 to March 31, 2019, thirty-eight [38] welfare checks were conducted.
- “Forty-five [45] welfare checks were completed in Fiscal Year 2020, which is from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.
- “From April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021, which is known as Fiscal Year 2021, two [2] welfare checks were conducted.
- “In Fiscal Year 2022, from the April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, thirteen [13] welfare checks were completed.
Q3. Would the Junior Minister please inform the Senate as to the total number of children and youth that completed their overseas psycho-educational care and returned to Bermuda to undertake reunification plans over each of the calendar years from 2015 to 2020?
“The total number of clients that completed the overseas psycho-educational care and returned to Bermuda to undertake reunification plans during each calendar year between 2015 and 2020 inclusive is as follows:-
- “eleven [11] clients in 2015;
- “in 2016, there was five [5] clients;
- “eight [8] clients in 2017;
- “during 2018, there was seven [7] clients;
- “in 2019, there was eight [8] clients; and
- “five [5] clients in 2020.”
