Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago

What Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago does

The Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago is a government statutory body established in 2015 under the Children Act 2015, operating under the Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services. It is the specialized national agency responsible for the care, protection, and rehabilitation of children in Trinidad and Tobago, serving children under 18 who have experienced or are at risk of abuse, neglect, abandonment, or exploitation, as well as parents, guardians, and partner agencies in the child protection ecosystem. The Authority is funded entirely through annual government budgetary allocations and occasional donor partnerships; all services are provided free of charge to the public.

The Authority operates a unified service model spanning the full child protection continuum: a 24/7 toll-free hotline (996), website and email reporting channels, assessment centres, child support centres, foster care (including kinship care), adoption services, forensic interview services conducted with police, licensing and monitoring of 41 Children's Homes and nurseries, and a 24/7 emergency response team. Its underlying technology infrastructure is the Primero Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS+), a web-based platform established through the UNICEF-EU Spotlight Initiative that integrates case management across multiple agencies including ChildLine, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, and the Immigration Division. The Authority has handled over 36,000 reports of child abuse since becoming operational in May 2015, conducts over 4,000 cases per year, and has completed 356 trauma-informed forensic interviews.

The organization employs 218 people and is headquartered at Corner Dere St. and Queen's Park West, Port of Spain, with mobile outreach units serving both Trinidad and Tobago. Distribution channels include a 24/7 hotline, website portal, email, physical office, school sensitisations, community outreach buses, and digital channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, YouTube). The Authority's go-to-market is event-driven and community-based, including campaigns during Child Abuse Prevention Month and observances such as World Children's Day. Strategic partnerships span multilateral bodies (UNHCR, UNICEF, ICRC, IDB), government agencies (Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Youth Development, NWRHA, Counter Trafficking Unit, Special Victims Department), NGOs (ChildLine), and private-sector donors (Republic Bank).

Name

Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago

Legal name

Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago

Website

https://ttchildren.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago is a government statutory body established in 2015 that serves as the national agency for child protection, care, and rehabilitation, operating a 24/7 hotline, foster care, adoption, forensic interview, and licensing services for children at risk of abuse across Trinidad and Tobago.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Protection Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child Care Services (6244), Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGABAG

Child Protection & Child Rights

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

SECONDARYBPADAGAG

Child Rights & Protection

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Human Rights, Democracy & Governance

SECONDARYBPAIAFAF

Juvenile Justice System (Courts & Detention)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Justice System (Courts, Prosecution & Corrections)

Keywords

• Child protection services
• Foster care services
• Adoption services
• Residential care licensing
• Child welfare case management

Headquarters

HQ city

Port of Spain

HQ country

Trinidad & Tobago

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: As a statutory body of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, the Authority is funded through annual government allocations to fulfill its mandate of child protection, care, and rehabilitation services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago is a statutory government agency that delivers child protection, care, and rehabilitation services. Its core offerings include a 24/7 abuse-reporting hotline (996), foster care and adoption placement, residential care licensing and monitoring, case management via the Primero CPIMS+ platform, forensic interview services, and emergency response. Services are provided free of charge to the public across Trinidad and Tobago.

Product overview

The Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago is a child-centred, family-focused government organisation advocating for the rights of children. Established in 2015, it operates as a single unified service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings include a 24/7 Hotline (996) for reporting abuse, case management through the Primero CPIMS+ platform (a web-based Child Protection Information Management System), Foster Care Services (including Kinship Foster Care), Adoption Services, Licensing and Monitoring of Children's Homes, Registry, Assessment Centres, Child Support Centres, Forensic Interview Services, and an Emergency Response Team. The Authority collaborates with stakeholders including the Police Service, Immigration Division, ChildLine, and various ministries to provide coordinated child protection services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Child Protection Hotline (996) A 24/7 toll-free hotline (numbers 996 and 800-2014) for reporting child abuse and seeking assistance. Available to the public across Trinidad and Tobago at no cost.
• Foster Care Services (including Kinship Foster Care) Temporary placement services for children unable to live with their birth families, including the Kinship Foster Care programme for placement with relatives or extended family.
• Adoption Services Process whereby a person assumes full legal responsibility for a child who is not biologically theirs, including guidance on overseas adoption.
• Licensing, Regulations and Monitoring of Children's Homes Licensing and continuous monitoring and evaluation of Children's Homes and nurseries through announced and unannounced visits to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of children.
• Registry (Case Management Registry) Central registry for tracking child protection cases and data management, accessible via [email protected].
• Assessment Centres Facilities for assessing children who come to the attention of the Authority.
• Child Support Centres Residential facilities providing care and protection for children, including psycho-social support and rehabilitation programmes.
• Forensic Interview Services
• Emergency Response Team

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 36,000 reports of child abuse received and managed since 2015
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ChildLinecoreTechnology or Integration · 15 July 2025Integration of ChildLine services into the Primero CPIMS+ platform, enabling seamless case management from initial registration through assessment and referral stages. Reduces retraumatisation by eliminating need for children to repeat their experiences across agencies.
• Special Victims Department (Trinidad and Tobago Police Service)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Collaboration to enhance inter-agency cooperation in child protection. Meeting held to discuss strengthening partnership for children and families served by both agencies.
• Counter Trafficking UnitcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Joint development of the Victims of Trafficking Process Manual with Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and Immigration Division, providing step-by-step guidelines for coordinated inter-agency response to child trafficking victims.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Partner in Child Safety Campaign focusing on child sexual abuse awareness. Also collaborated on establishing the Primero CPIMS+ platform in Trinidad and Tobago through the UNICEF-EU Spotlight Initiative.
• Republic Bank LimitedminorOthers · 13 September 2022Donated two buses (one for Trinidad, one for Tobago) through the Power to Make a Difference Program to support the Authority's community outreach initiative for receiving abuse reports and sensitising communities.
• UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 July 2022Collaboration to support refugee children in Trinidad and Tobago. Successfully reunified a Venezuelan teenager with her parents in Brazil through coordinated efforts including travel documentation and case management.
• Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to establish Digital Corner at Eastern Boys Government Primary School, providing laptops and online safety training. Also supports the Pr.A.I.S.E. Awards programme and various child protection initiatives.
• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Port of SpaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with 14 Catholic-run Children's Care Homes to promote greater support for vulnerable children, facilitate reintegration with families where possible, and support licensing compliance. Eleven of 14 Catholic homes have achieved compliance.
• Ministry of Youth Development and National ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop psychosocial support programme for teenage boys at Child Support Centres, including mentorship, reinforcement, and career guidance for at-risk youth.
• North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint 'Be Aware, Take Care' series at health centres to educate communities on mandatory reporting, forms of abuse, positive parenting, and child protection.
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided Emergency Travel Document for Venezuelan teenager's journey to reunite with family in Brazil.
• Ministry of Social Development and Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry providing Community-Based Parenting Workshops and family support services. Key partner in National Interagency Protocol for Child Abuse Prevention and Management.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Office of the Children's Advocate (Jamaica): Jamaican statutory body mandated to protect children's rights, investigate complaints, and monitor state care of children. Performs a comparable statutory child protection and advocacy function within another Caribbean Commonwealth jurisdiction.
• Child Care Board (Barbados): Statutory agency in Barbados responsible for child welfare, foster care, adoption, and residential care licensing in that jurisdiction. Functions as the closest cross-Caribbean equivalent to the Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, operating under similar legislative mandates and service portfolios.
• ChildLine Trinidad and Tobago: Trinidad and Tobago-based child helpline and counseling service, directly integrated into the Authority's Primero CPIMS+ platform. Operates as the primary reporting channel and a closely allied front-line service provider for child abuse cases across the same jurisdiction.

Others

• Terre des Hommes: International NGO focused on child protection, children's rights, and aid programming across multiple regions. Functions as an adjacent ecosystem participant supporting child welfare systems, complementing rather than directly competing with statutory national child protection agencies like the Authority.

Broad incumbents

• Save the Children International: Global NGO operating child protection, education, and emergency response programs across more than 100 countries. Overlaps with the Authority's mandate in case management, foster care alternatives, and inter-agency coordination, but at much broader international scale and as a donor-funded rather than statutory body.
• Prevent Child Abuse America: US national nonprofit focused on child abuse prevention through public awareness, professional training, and program advocacy. Comparable to the Authority's sensitization, school outreach, and prevention mandate, though without the Authority's statutory licensing and case management remit.
• NSPCC (UK): Long-established UK charity dedicated to child abuse prevention, helpline operation, and child protection system advocacy. Provides a comparable mix of hotline services, public education, and policy advocacy at much greater scale, making it a benchmark incumbent for service model and impact.
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC): US-based nonprofit operating a national hotline, forensic services, and inter-agency coordination for missing and exploited children. Comparable to the Authority in operating a centralized reporting hotline and inter-agency case management infrastructure, but at significantly larger scale and scope.
• UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Area Office: UN agency operating across the Caribbean with a child protection mandate that directly overlaps the Authority's work. UNICEF co-developed the Primero CPIMS+ platform deployed in Trinidad and Tobago, making it both a strategic partner and a broader incumbent in the same child welfare space.

Emerging players

• International Social Service (ISS): International NGO specializing in cross-border child protection, family reunification, and intercountry adoption. Directly comparable in handling overseas adoption and cross-border family reunification cases (such as the Venezuelan minor case the Authority coordinated with UNHCR and ICRC).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ttchildren_org
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCu-YgCVel2w-TQpNLCKZ9Fg
• Facebookfacebook.com/childrensauthoritytt
• Instagraminstagram.com/childrensauthoritytt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/childrens-authority-of-trinidad-and-tobago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago