07/01/09

ABOUT THE HOME

It was midnight when the police knocked on the gate of the Strathmore Garden in Spanish Town, Jamaica and brought Daniel

to the shelter, a homeless child found roaming the streets. On another day the child brought here was a 6 month old infant discovered in the market place and brought to shelter.

Our full name is Strathmore Garden Children's Place of Safety. It is a rescue shelter for orphaned, abandoned, disabled and abused children.

The home is charted in Jamaica and is licensed to accommodate 35 children from infant to 15 years old, but is often times over crowded ,due to the overwhelming demand for such services in Jamaica and the lack of facilities to address these needs. It is also necessary for us to accept children with disabilities although the home is not equipped to deal with such cases.

The services we provide are comprehensive: shelter, food, clothing, medical services, counseling, educational and social services---- that are in a caring , loving and spiritual environment.

The intended plan for this temporary heaven is that after a 90 day stay, the children either enter foster care system , are adopted, or are returned to family members who may then be able to receive them. Some, however, have stayed in this temporary shelter for years. The cost to take care for a month child is $25.00 US.

Our intention is to turn no child away, but sometimes we have had to do so for lack of space. Plans are currently drawn up to increase the facility to housed 100 children. This new building is estimated to cost one million US dollars to build. If you are interested in helping with this project and or to sponsor a child  please see our contact information page.

STAFFING

The home has a superintendent, a resident housemother, 6 house parents, 1 full time teacher, and 1 activity coordinator and1 maintenance watchman.