The Child Resiliency Programme (CRP) is welcoming 125 new students from schools in the Boys Town and Mountain View communities as it ramps up activities for the 2026/27 academic year, while another 40 students from Holy Family Primary are returning to the programme.
The new intake includes 60 students referred from Edward Seaga Primary, Boys Town Primary, St Alban’s Primary, Trench Town Primary, St Annie’s Primary and Jones Town Primary, and 25 students from Mountain View Primary.
“This new intake represents an important opportunity for us to reach more children and families with the tools and support they need to develop resilience and navigate the challenges they face,” said Dr Scott, Director of the Child Resiliency Programme.
At Holy Family Primary, 40 students who previously participated in the programme have been contacted to resume their involvement as the CRP continues to build on its work with the school.
Dr Scott said the return of the Holy Family students is equally significant, as the programme seeks to provide consistent support to children as they progress through primary school.
“Resilience is not something that is developed in a single intervention. It requires consistent support and opportunities for children to practise the skills they are learning. Our continued work with the students at Holy Family allows us to build on the foundation that has already been established,” she said.
Programme activities began on October 5, with baseline evaluation interviews now under way for each referred child. The assessments will help facilitators identify the needs of the children and establish a benchmark for measuring their progress throughout the programme.
“The baseline assessments are an important part of our work because they help us to understand where each child is at the beginning of the programme. This allows us to better tailor our interventions and, importantly, measure the impact of the programme over time,” Dr Scott explained.
CRP Team Workshop
The start of the new academic year follows intensive preparation by the CRP leadership team and facilitators. On September 24, the team hosted a Training “Power Brunch” at the Courtleigh Hotel, bringing together facilitators from the Boys Town and Mountain View programmes to review monitoring and evaluation findings from the previous year and prepare for the new cycle of activities.
Preparations are also under way for the next phase of CRP at Holy Family Primary. An implementers’ meeting involving CRP facilitators was held on September 30 to support preparations for the delivery of Part 2 of the programme.
The programme is also extending its focus to tertiary-level training, with plans to deliver the Peace Building, Resiliency and Wellness (PRW) Course through Google Classroom this semester. The course will target final-year Guidance and Counselling students, along with Bachelor of Education and Psychology students, through the Peace Institute at the International University of the Caribbean.
Dr Scott said the tertiary-level component is important to the programme’s broader objective of building capacity among professionals who work with children and young people.
“By taking the Peace Building, Resiliency and Wellness course to tertiary students, we are helping to prepare future educators and psychologists with knowledge and practical tools that can be applied in their work with children, families and communities,” she said.
The CRP continues to use its Operational Guidelines Handbook and the Building Peace, Resiliency and Wellness (PRW) Manual as key resources for programme delivery and training.
CRP Collaborates with Project STAR
Meanwhile, discussions have been held with Project STAR on a new contract to extend the Child Resiliency Programme at Holy Family Primary through Grade 6. The extension is expected to provide continued support for students as they transition through the upper grades of primary school.
Dr Scott expressed appreciation to the programme’s partners for their continued support.
“The growth and continuity of the Child Resiliency Programme would not be possible without the commitment of our partners. We are particularly grateful to the Joan Duncan Foundation of JMMB, our main partner for CRP and PRW activities, as well as the American Friends of Jamaica for their support,” she said.
With a growing cohort of students and continued investment in facilitator training, the CRP is strengthening its efforts to equip children with the tools to build resilience, manage challenges and develop healthier relationships with themselves and others.