How To Report Abuse

Call

+1-246-535-2800

Fax

+1-246-435-3172

 

Email

childcareboard@barbados.gov.bb

Mail report to

Fred Edgehill Building,
Cheapside,
Bridgetown, Barbados

Office Hours
Monday – Friday
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Who Is Responsible?

Every Barbadian citizen or non-national resident in Barbados has a responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves and in this case children who may be at risk of abuse or neglect. However, although everyone should report child abuse, there are a number of professionals who because they have frequent contact with children, must report abuse or be held liable by law.

Mandatory reporters include for example:

  • Principals
  • All teacher and other school personnel
  • The administrative officer or supervisors of child welfare and attendance, or certified pupil personnel employees of any public or private school, welfare officer, social workers and probation officers
  • Administrators of any public or private day camp
  • Administrators or employees of a public or private youth centre, youth recreation programme or youth organization
  • Administrator or employees of a public or private organisation whose duties require direct contact and supervision of children
  • Licensee, administrator or employee of a licensed community care or child day care facility
  • Licensing workers or licensing evaluators
  • Lawyers (subject to lawyer/client privilege)
  • Employees of a child care institution including but not limited to foster parents, group home personnel and personnel of a residential care facility
  • Employees of a school security department
  • Administrators and counsellors in a child abuse prevention program in any public or private school
  • All employees of the government of Barbados

Your Obligation

Reporters represent a crucial link in the system to protect Barbados’ most vulnerable citizens. By law, mandatory reporters must report suspected abuse of a child regardless of whether or not the knowledge of the abuse was gained in the reporter’s official capacity. In other words, the mandatory reporting of abuse of children is a 24-hour obligation. Failure to report could result in criminal civil and/or professional liability.

The absence of training does not excuse a mandated reporter from the duty to report. There is no duty to report past incidents of child abuse when the victim has reached the age of 18 years. However, a reporter may within his or her discretion, report incidents of past abuse that occurred before the child reached the age of 18 years. Such reports are encouraged particularly when the abuser has current access to children.

Any person including mandated reporters who make a report of suspected abuse or neglect to the Child Care Board is immune from prosecution both civilly and criminally provided the report was made in good faith. A reporting person can be charged if the report is malicious or without reasonable grounds.

An unhappy boy staring directly at you

What is Child Abuse?

Child abuse is any action by another person – adult (parent/caregiver) or child – that causes significant harm to a child. It can be physical, sexual or emotional, but can just as often be a lack of love, care and attention. A caregiver may fail to act and cause injury, death or emotional harm or risk of serious harm to a child. Neglect, whatever form it takes, can be just as damaging to a child as physical abuse.

Types of Abuse

Factors of Child Abuse

    • Social dysfunction within the family system.
    • Domestic violence situation.
    • Use of illegal drugs and alcohol are contributing factors.
    • Socio-Economic.
    • Poverty.
    • Inadequate understanding of the child’s developmental age.

Child Abuse Register

A child abuse register was started during 1983 -1984 to keep a record of cases referred to the Department, and to monitor trends in the area of child abuse. The Board works closely with the Police Department on matters where legal proceedings are brought against perpetrators. Training has been an integral part of this programme. In-service training is con­ducted to help officers become more familiar with the problems of child abuse and with its legislation, as well as to help them to develop their ability to identi­fy and to conceptualize these problems. The Board is also looking at new and innovative ways of dealing with the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Some Warning Signs That Your Adolescent May Need Help

    • Isolation
    • Change in eating or sleeping habits
    • Ongoing problems at school
    • Ongoing problems at home
    • Change in friends, activities etc.
    • Use of alcohol or other drugs
    • Major mood swings
    • Suicidal thoughts

Prevent Abuse

  • Ensure your children are supervised at all times.
  • Get to know the adults and other children that your children interact with.
  • Observe their relationships.
  • Teach your children the correct names of their body parts so they can express concerns and ask questions about them.
  • Be wary of one on one time that children might be spending with adults.
    Watch out for adults who spend a lot of time with children instead of adults.
  • Don’t allow sleep-overs unless you know the family well and have visited the home on several occasions.
  • Inform children to never keep inappropriate touching a secret or any secrets in general.
  • Explain a GOOD touch makes them feel comfortable, happy and loved and a BAD touch hurts or makes them feel uncomfortable.
  • Teach children that GOOD touches are hugging, shaking hands, holding hands and touching that is good for both people.
  • Teach children that BAD touches are hitting, kicking, biting and any touching that hurts them.
  • Explain a CONFUSING touch makes them feel weird. It can be a good touch that turns bad, like hugging too long.
  • Teach children that a CONFUSING touch can be a bad touch that feels good, like touching of the private parts.
  • Encourage your children to inform you or a trusted responsible adult if someone is touching them inappropriately.