Health, Wellness and Social Protection
Assemblyman Dr. Faith B.Yisrael
Deputy Chief Secretary and Secretary for Health, Wellness and Social Protection
Assemblyman Megan Morrison
Assistant Secretary for Health, Wellness and Social Protection
Divisional Overview
The Division of Health, Wellness and Social Protection is accountable for the effective management and delivery of high quality service to the Tobago population. We ensure an enabling environment for our committed staff of professionals and partners, to meet the health and social care needs of the people of Tobago, so as to protect the vulnerable and promote health, wellness and family development.
Mission
To provide a service for the maintenance and enhancement of personal and community health, through the application of sound environmental health principles of disease prevention, health promotion and protection.
Departments / Units
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Programme
Ground Floor, Habib Building, #107 Wilson Road, Scarborough, Tobago
Phone: 639-3395 Ext: 47204
The Alcohol and Drug Prevention Programme (ADAPP) continues to provide support services for drug intervention and prevention, to promote the building of healthy homes, healthy communities and a healthier Tobago. It is therefore mandated to deliver substance abuse prevention awareness at schools and at the community level with a focus on education and training.
Services include:
- Initial screening and assessment of substance users.
- Counselling.
- Public drug prevention education.
- Referrals to stakeholders and other support groups.
Ageing Unit
Ground Floor, Habib Building, #107 Wilson Road, Scarborough, Tobago
Phone: 639-3395 Ext: 47207
The Ageing Unit was established to develop and implement initiatives, programmes and projects such as the Golden Apple Partnership Programme, to continually meet the social needs of the elderly in Tobago. Various social needs are met through the daily activities conducted at the senior citizen activity centres throughout the Island.
Services include:
- Caregiver services for elderly persons at their homes.
- Activities for senior citizens at Activity Centres throughout Tobago.
- Opportunities for senior citizens to socialize with each other.
- Links to organizations that support the elderly.
Children and Family Services Unit
Ground Floor, Habib Building, #107 Wilson Road, Scarborough, Tobago
Phone: 639-3395 Exts: 47211-47213
The Children and Family Services Unit was established to promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals and communities. Staffed with a support system of Programme Co-ordinators, Social Workers and Family Case Workers, this Unit provides the population of Tobago with a comprehensive social service at no cost with no discrimination to age, sex, gender, race or religion.
Services include:
- Therapeutic counselling for individuals, groups and families.
- Interventions for children in collaboration with the Children’s Authority, Police and other stakeholders.
- Collaborations with C.S.S.U to provide Emergency Relief Support and General Assistance (only applicable to vulnerable persons).
- Educational sessions at schools and community groups to strengthen families.
Community Social Services Unit
Ground Floor, Habib Building, #107 Wilson Road, Scarborough, Tobago
Phone: 639-3395 Exts: 47209-47210
The Community Social Services Unit was established to enhance the quality of life for clients through increased access to an effective social services delivery system. The Unit also endeavours to provide a supportive environment for clients to effectively resolve individual, group and family problems, as well as facilitate the empowerment of its clients for sustained self-sufficiency.
Services include:
- Therapeutic Counselling.
- Emergency Relief Support.
- General Assistance (only applicable to vulnerable persons.)
- Household assistance and items.
- Rental assistance.
- Medical assistance.
- Funeral grant.
- Accessible services at Health Centres and Multipurpose Facilities throughout Tobago.
Community Mediation Unit
#16 Bagatelle Trace, Calder Hall, Scarborough, Tobago
Phone: 635-0237/ 660-7709
Community Mediation aims to empower those involved in disputes to craft an agreement themselves so that the solution satisfies them and their community and restores the relationship that previously existed. The parties in a dispute and the community are key stakeholders.
Services include:
- Free and confidential mediation services for small claim matters, neighbourhood conflicts, threat and harassment problems and juvenile conflicts.
- Help to arrive at mutually agreeable decisions without lawsuits or violence.
- Training in areas such as conflict management, peer mediation and customer service.
Disability Affairs Unit
C/o Technical Vocational Centre for Persons with Disabilities
#109 Carrington Drive, Bon Accord Development, Tobago
Phone: 639-2519 / 497-2411
The Disability Affairs Unit (D.A.U) provides information, technical support, advice, referral and follow-up services to persons with disabilities and the general public. The D.A.U is mandated to collaborate with key stakeholders and civil society organizations to ensure differently able clients receive available services and resources to enable them to live independently and be fully included in society. The D.A.U also undertakes research on disability and policy related issues and works closely with support agencies towards implementing inclusive programmes and activities.
Services include:
- Loan of disability aids and appliances through the Unit’s equipment bank.
- Servicing and repair of disability aids mainly through home visits e.g. wheelchairs, crutches, walkers etc.
- Supervision of the operations of the Technical Vocational Centre for Persons with Disabilities
- Commemoration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities and other disability related observances in collaboration with key stakeholders.
Gender Affairs Unit
Ground Floor, Habib Building, #107 Wilson Road, Scarborough, Tobago
Phone: 639-3395 Ext: 47214
The Gender Affairs Unit is mandated to implement a comprehensive programme that will effectively address the needs of parties involved in gender based violence and support and participate in the development of a Gender Policy and implement.
Services include:
- Therapeutic counselling.
- Interventions for abused persons in collaboration with the Children’s Authority, Police and other stakeholders.
- Educational sessions at schools and community groups on gender based-issues.
Litter Eradication Programme (LEP)
Salandy’s Building, Piggott Street, Scarborough, Tobago
Phone: 639-1715
L.E.P is mandated to maintain a clean, safe and healthy environment throughout Tobago, through the collection of litter.
Office of the County Medical Officer of Health (O-CMOH)
Cor. Robinson and Young Street, Scarborough, Tobago
Phone: 639-3751 / 639-3395 Exts: 47600-47605
The Office of the County Medical Officer of Health together with the Public Health Department focusses on the administration of public health activities and the prevention and control of diseases in Tobago. Responsibilities include surveillance, prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases, disaster management, health promotion and public education, Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), travel health, environmental health, food safety, vector control and health service standards.
Probation Services Unit
Kennedy Building, Main Street, Scarborough, Tobago
Phone: 635-1788
The Probation Services Unit provides a unique level of service to the Magistrate and Supreme Courts in Tobago, as well as the Family Court in Trinidad. Its mandate is to manage applications in criminal and other matters based on the recommendation of the Court system. Magistrates and Judges request Probation Officers’ reports in order to assist the Court in making informed decisions on matters before them.
Services include:
- Assessments of offenders, including children who are offenders, beyond control or abused.
- Counselling and rehabilitation for offenders, victims and families.
- Monitoring of all placements of children by the Courts.
Probation Hostel and Community Residence for Children
Probation Hostel Phone: 631-1810 (Location not listed because it is a safe home).
The Probation Hostel and Community Residence for Children are safe homes for children who are exposed to and are in situations of risk, such as abuse, neglection or abandonment. In the event that the court has ordered a child to be removed from the home, that child can be placed at either Home, where he/she will receive comprehensive support to recover from any troubling issue.
Services include:
- Safe home, counselling, life skills training and other empowerment opportunities for children on probation by the Court and in situations of risk.
- Opportunities to rehabilitate the children and their families.
Programme for Adolescent Mothers (PAM)
Cor. Herman Job Avenue, All Fields, Lowlands, Tobago
Phone: 639-1183
PAM was established to attain sustainable human and social development, provide the necessary support systems for adolescent mothers and prevent increased burdens in areas of medical health and other social service areas.
Services include:
- Counselling and other empowerment opportunities for young mothers.
- Academic support for young mothers who have not completed secondary school.
- Training in areas such as life skills, family planning, sexual health and literacy.
Public Health Services Department
Cor. Robinson and Young Street, Scarborough, Tobago
Phone: 639-1433 / 639-3395 Exts: 47600-47619
The Public Health Services was established to provide a service for the maintenance and enhancement of personal community health, through the application of sound environmental health principles of disease prevention, health promotion and protection.
Realisation for Economic Achievement (REACH)
Ground Floor, Habib Building, #107 Wilson Road, Scarborough, Tobago Phone: 639-3395 Ext: 47206
The Project for the Realisation of Economic Achievement (REACH) focuses on empowerment and poverty eradication among the poor and vulnerable in communities throughout Tobago, to assist them to gain economic independence and self-sufficiency.
Services include:
- Grants worth $7,500.00, to establish small businesses.
- Training for clients to properly manage their businesses.
- Opportunities for clients to sell and market their products.
Social Welfare Department
Ground Floor, Habib Building, #107 Wilson Road, Scarborough, Tobago
Phone: 639-3395 Exts: 47200-47203
The Social Welfare Department provides a wide range of non-contributory financial assistance, which is geared towards meeting the needs of the elderly, disabled and disadvantaged, to strengthen their economic and social well-being.
Services include:
- Senior citizen, disability and public assistance grants to help elderly, differently-abled and disadvantaged persons. Applicants must fulfil the criteria to be eligible to receive any grant.
Technical Vocational Centre (TecVoc)
Carrington Drive, Bon Accord, Tobago
Phone; 639-2519
The Technological Vocational Centre’s (TecVoc) purpose is to provide further educational and skills training to persons with disabilities and empower them to live independent lives so that they can be fully included in society. Some of their programmes include computer studies, remedial work in CXC subjects, mixed craft and woodwork.
Services include:
- Educational opportunities for differently-abled children in areas such as Mathematics, English and Computer Studies.
- Life skills-development and empowerment sessions for persons with disabilities, which includes art and craft, meal preparation, woodwork and music.
Tobago Rehabilitation and Empowerment Centre (TREC)
Fort Street, Fort King George, Scarborough, Tobago
Phone: 639-3395 Exts: 47700-47706
The Tobago Rehabilitation and Empowerment Centre (TREC) has been mandated to design and implement programmes that guard against the dangers of drug use and addiction. It provides for treatment, rehabilitation and empowerment of individuals who recognize that their lives have become unmanageable and unproductive and are seeking to pull themselves together.
Services include:
- Rehabilitation and treatment services for substance abusers.
- Live-in facilities for men for a period of three months.
- Outpatient counselling.
- Links to family support groups for the families of clients.
Women’s Empowerment and Technological Empowerment Centre (WETEC)
Phone: 639-2075 (Location not listed because it is a safe home).
The Women’s’ Economic and Technological Empowerment Centre (WETEC), is a domestic violence project that was piloted by the need to assist clients during their period of vulnerability, to totally empower them with practical skills, so that they could take control of their lives and achieve the highest level of self-sufficiency and peace, whilst actualizing their goals.
Services include:
- Theraputic counselling.
- Temporary accommodation for female victims and children (12 and under).
- Interventions for women and children in collaboration with the Children’s Authority, Police and other stakeholders.
- Empowerment through life skills training.
- Educational sessions at schools and community groups.
**If necessary, interventions and outreach sessions are done in collaboration with other Units / stakeholder organizations.**