Organization : Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
Facility : Child Safeguarding Services
Country : Cayman Islands
Website : https://www.dcfs.gov.ky/children-youth/child-safeguarding
DCFS Cayman Islands Child Safeguarding Services
Taking a whole-of-family approach, we make a positive difference to families through services ranging from early intervention and prevention to intensive casework. We aim to safeguard children from violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect.
Related / Similar Facility : DCFS Cayman Islands Foster Care Services
Clientele: Children ages birth – 17
The services from the team are designed to protect children and encourage family stability. Child protection serves to maintain the paramount interest of the child during the investigation process.
Our main objective is to provide family intervention comprising of supervision and reports to the courts, and local and international agencies to support the safety, permanency and well-being of children.
Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)
A “hub” that connects the Government’s social work and police, and works in collaboration with education and health, in the context of child safeguarding. It also ensures that families have access to the support services they need
MASH brings together numerous agencies, including the Police, the Department of Children & Family Services, health and education.
MASH is a place where relevant information is shared by professionals from health, education, Police and DCFS in order to understand the risks and vulnerabilities a child may be facing and agree on which agency (or agencies) may be best placed to help and support them.
About MASH:
The Cayman Islands Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) aims to promote the safety and welfare of children by providing a coordinated multi-agency response to referrals.
DCFS has a statutory responsibility under Section 32A of the Children Act to receive and assess reports of suspected abuse and neglect of children. The Department’s Child Safeguarding Team investigates referrals and also conducts child welfare checks. These referrals are generated from the MASH.
The Hub includes DCFS, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, the Department of Education Services, and virtual partners. The MASH Desk receives all new child safeguarding referrals and is responsible for assessing the information to make recommendations for further action.
Contact DCFS & MASH
If you have reasonable suspicion of neglect or abuse of a child, please contact
MASH:
Telephone: (345) 945-0545 /1-800-534-2273 (toll-free)
Email: MASH [at] gov.ky
Address: 2nd Floor, Crown Square Plaza, 71 Eastern Avenue, George Town.
DCFS:
Telephone: (345) 949-0290
Email: DCFS [at] gov.ky
Address: 2nd Floor Apollo House East, 87 Mary Street, George Town.
For urgent out-of-hours concerns, contact 911 or visit the nearest Police station.