THREE newborns tested positive for methamphetamine in October 2024, according to the Division of Youth Services.
In a statement on Thursday, DYS said its Child Protective Services or CPS “reports a troubling start to the new fiscal year, with data from October revealing three newborns testing positive for drugs at birth.”
Last month, DYS Administrator Vivian Sablan and CPS intervention supervisor Mariah Barcinas reported that six newborns tested positive for meth in fiscal year 2024, which ended on Sept. 30, 2024. These babies were among the 119 children who were adversely affected by drug use cases at home.
The figures recorded in October 2024, the first month of FY 2025, do not include ongoing cases. CPS is actively working with families that need additional support, DYS said.
Barcinas said: “Each of these cases represents a newborn who deserves a healthier start to life. This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about our duty to step up as a community to protect and nurture these children.”
She added, “We need to come together to support families and prevent substance exposure from affecting our children’s lives from the very beginning.”
Sablan, for her part, emphasized the importance of community-wide awareness and resources.
“Our focus at DYS is not just on responding to these cases but on building a network of support to prevent them. We want parents and families to know that help is available and that seeking support early can make a difference. These children deserve a healthy start, and it’s up to all of us to make that possible,” Sablan said.
In addition to the newborn exposure cases, Sablan said the October 2024 data included 63 new reports involving 162 children and a total of 224 separate allegations involving emotional abuse and neglect, physical abuse and various support services.
Sablan said CPS has prioritized these cases by “providing services and interventions that address both immediate safety and long-term family stability.”
DYS is calling on the community “to join in raising awareness, sharing information about available resources and supporting families in need. By creating a supportive environment where families feel comfortable seeking help, DYS aims to reduce the risk of future cases and ensure that every child in the CNMI has the opportunity to thrive,” Sablan said.
For more information about Child Protective Services or to report a concern, contact CPS at (670) 237-1005 to 14 or visit the DYS website, dys.gov.mp or its Facebook Page, “DCCA DYS.”
