MP Tucker Questions Oversight Of Overseas Care
Shadow Minister for Youth & Family Services, Robin Tucker is “questioning how the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors was unaware of a major United States Senate report released in June 2024.”
“The report was produced following a two-year investigation into reports of abuse, violence and systemic failures at US residential treatment facilities that named two facilities, Harbour Point and Devereaux, where Bermudian children were sent,” she said.
“How is it that the Director of Child and Family Services, who has responsibility for sending children in his care to overseas residential treatment facilities [RTF], didn’t know about this critical report? Given his responsibility to safeguard children in his care, doesn’t he have a duty to know?
“To ensure a child’s safety and wellbeing, the Director is supposed to conduct overseas site visits every six months. Do these visits regularly happen?” she questions.
“Prior reports indicate that the overseas facilities where our children are sent are vetted by DCFS, but beyond a biannual check-in with the child, is a review of these facilities conducted after placement to ensure the child’s ongoing safety and wellbeing in these facilities remain?”
“It is acknowledged that some children require treatment overseas, but others might benefit from having additional local programmes in place with appropriate support and treatment in Bermuda.
“One suggestion for helping children with behavioural issues is to revamp the former senior training school, staffed with qualified, trained professionals, so that the children have onsite support specific to their needs, access to wrap around services, and can earn GEDs and vocational certifications.”
“The US Senate report supports the idea of providing services at home when it stated that “[i]n many cases, a child’s wellness is directly correlated with a connection to their community, whether this is faith-based, kin, parents/guardian[s], or agencies and/or clinical staff, both inside and out of the RTF. These stakeholders should be actively involved in the child’s treatment”.
“It is time that Bermuda takes another look at increasing therapeutic services, providing additional programmes and support at home to reduce the number of children being sent overseas.
“Bermuda’s children deserve better. Our children deserve a child‑protection system that is proactive, informed, and vigilant — not one that sends them overseas without independent advocacy, but with close monitoring, strong connection and support.”
“The Opposition will continue to demand accountability, transparency, and a child‑welfare system that places the safety and welfare of Bermudian children above all else.”
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