NPSC Launches Special Helplines Initiative For

Parents
NPSC launches special helplines initiative for parents

 The National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC), an agency of the Ministry of

Education, Youth and Information, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF), Victoria Mutual Foundation (VMBS Foundation) and Fight for Peace has
launched thirty-six (36) helplines to offer much needed psychosocial care to parents across
Jamaica.

 The helplines, which became operational Monday, April 6, have been established, two (2)
per parish, with the exception of Kingston, St. James, St. Ann, St. Catherine and Clarendon,
which have been given additional helplines. These parishes have recorded a higher
numbers of COVID 19 cases. In the case of Clarendon, sections of that parish remain under
quarantine.

 This initiative was launched against the background of the NPSC’s implementation of the
National Parenting Support Policy aimed at ensuring continuous parental involvement
throughout the education sector. This is being done through a comprehensive suite of
coordinated support and public-private partnerships.

 With the closure of schools, many parents had cited challenges in helping out in home
schooling. Other parents initially reported concerns about providing food for their children
who are a part of the Government of Jamaica’s social protection programmes where they
are provided breakfast and lunch at school. The Education Ministry has since arranged for
meals to be delivered to students on the Programme of Advancement Through Health and
Education (PATH) and going forward for cash payments to made available to parents.

Persons operating the helplines will help guide callers to where and how they may get
additional help and what they can do as individuals.

The list of parish lines is attached.

NUMBERS PARISH SERVICE PROVIDER

876-560-9314 Westmoreland Digicel
876-788-5568 Westmoreland Flow
     
876-788-5371 Hanover Flow
876-560-9630 Hanover Digicel
     
876-560-9395 St. James Digicel
876-788-5214 St. James Flow
876-560-9336 St. James Digicel
876-788-5276 St. James Flow
     
876-560-9736 Trelawny Digicel
876-788-5382 Trelawny Flow
     
876-560-9399 St. Ann Digicel
876-788-5468 St. Ann Flow
876-788-5606 St. Ann Flow
876-560-9634 St. Ann Digicel
     
876-788-5196 St. Mary Flow
876-560-9604 .St. Mary Digicel
     
876-560-9215 Portland Digicel
876-788-5323 Portland Flow
     
876-560-9269 St. Thomas Digicel
876-788-5409 St. Thomas Flow
     
876-560-9425 St. Andrew Digicel
876-788-5417 St. Andrew Flow
     
876-560-9656 Kingston Digicel
876-788-5460 Kingston Flow
876-560-9758 Kingston Digicel
876-788-5329 Kingston Flow
     
876-560-9289 St. Catherine Digicel
876-788-5378 St. Catherine Flow
876-560-9564 St. Catherine Digicel
     
876-560-9209 Clarendon Digicel
876-788-5201 Clarendon Flow
876-560-9503 Clarendon Digicel
     
876-560-9176 Manchester Digicel
876-788-5427 Manchester Flow
     
876-788-5172 St. Elizabeth Flow
876-560-9302 St. Elizabeth Digicel