JCF CARE INITIATIVE PARTNERS WITH GEM FOR PHASE TWO
What began as a selfless act by the JCF officer corps quickly morphed into a meaningful initiative that continues to spark hope, restore confidence and create lasting impact on communities in the worst affected western parishes post-Hurricane Melissa.
The JCF Children’s Advocacy, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) initiative was initially executed as a series of Christmas Villages offering entertainment, trauma coping sessions, and a unique shopping experience featuring specially designed JCF Bucks. Thousands of children across St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. James, Hanover, Trelawny, St. Ann, Clarendon and Manchester benefitted from the initiative.
Now, CARE’s focus advances towards strengthening resilience.
The programme’s introduction was reactionary in helping to restore normalcy for children as much as possible, as quickly as possible.
This secondary phase will concentrate on fostering supportive environments at home, school and within the community for children, with additional extended assistance to the elderly and differently abled communities.
This expansion will be powered through a partnership with Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), whose contributions of warm clothing, food, hygienic care packages, books and other supplies for children helped make CARE’s first outreach instalment a success.
Senior Superintendent of Police and head of the Constabulary Communications Network Ms. Dahlia Garrick and Executive Director of GEM Caribbean, Ms. Deika Morrison, spoke to the revved-up plans for JCF CARE on JCF Now, aired Thursday January 22 on RJR 94 FM.
Phase two, as explained by SSP Garrick, will focus on the psychosocial well-being of the children.
“We intend to introduce various activities and interactive sessions to include play therapy and sensitisation sessions for the communities.” SSP Garrick said.
She explained that the JCF will employ a blended approach for traditional intervention strategies while doing assessments before moving into other parishes. During the holiday breaks the JCF CARE team will go to the communities during the week and during regular school hours, while the initiative will be brought to the communities on the weekend.
“I have worked with children all my life, so I immediately understood what the JCF was trying to achieve with the CARE initiative,” Ms. Morrison added.
“I could tell that it was children first… I was struck by the idea that the children could choose what they wanted… I loved everything about that.” Ms. Morrison expressed, referring to the shopping experience in the Christmas Villages.
As children in the early childhood group are amongst the most vulnerable, GEM Caribbean has a special program to focus on this age group, their schools and teachers. With the support from the JCF, assessments will be made to identify and deliver the much-needed resources to the schools in the affected parishes.
“Our job is to help GEM get the resources to the people who need them most.” SSP Garrick added.
As the JCF starts the year with the renewed approach to Strengthening Our People, Strengthening Our Bonds and Strengthening Jamaica, the JCF is committed to collaborating with various stakeholders in an effort to boost the resilience of the children and communities affected in the western parishes.
Phase two of the CARE initiative is set to begin on January 24, 2026. Stay tuned to the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s website and social media pages for updates.
