Division of Youth Services Administrator Vivian Sablan, center, speaks to members of the media on Capital Hill, Wednesday. Also in photo are Child Protective Services Intervention Acting Supervisor Mariah Barcinas, left, and CPS case worker Juanicia Villanueva.
THE number of cases handled by the Division of Youth Services’ Child Protective Services has been rising since fiscal year 2023, according to a report presented by DYS on Wednesday.
DYS Administrator Vivian Sablan, Child Protective Services Intervention Acting Supervisor Mariah Barcinas and CPS case worker Juanicia Villanueva shared the data with media members at the DYS office on Capital Hill.
The 459 cases of domestic violence and drug use on Saipan, Tinian and Rota went up to 543 cases in FY 2024. The 459 cases in FY 2023 involved 1,214 children, and the 534 cases in FY 2024 involved 1,459 children.
The data further showed that, of the cases in FY 2023, 74 children were adversely affected in 24 drug use cases at home. In FY 2024, the number of these cases went up to 40, with 119 children affected, six of whom were newborn and tested positive for meth, the report stated.
For FY 2024 alone, Sablan said they responded to 33 reports of drug use at home.
Barcinas said she wants to emphasize that these numbers represent real individuals and real families in the community. She said DYS, which is under the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, remains steadfast in ensuring the safety and well-being of CNMI children and families.
The data also highlighted areas where CPS needs to grow, she added. In order for them to grow and create a safer CNMI, Barcinas said, “we need the support of our families, the community, the media….”
She said having a newborn who tests positive for meth is considered physical neglect.
Sablan said the top three allegations in FY 2024 involved physical abuse (112), physical neglect (107) and sexual abuse (95).
She said it is important to know that there are contributing factors to this recent trend in DYS cases. These include substance abuse; economic factors/financial burdens; unaddressed trauma or mental health issues; lack of support due to divorce, separations, incarcerations and exposure to crime.
At the same time, she said these cases “might mean that our awareness campaign is really out there, our outreach, so folks…are really comfortable in reporting now. We are trying to break the stigma and making sure that everybody is aware of the services that we provide.”
Barcinas said DYS worked on these cases after receiving calls from the community, including schools, the hospital, the Department of Public Safety, family friends and neighbors. In the process, she said, they removed the children from home.
Barcinas said DYS evaluates the family situation and identifies any potential risks to the children. DYS will also draw up a family plan with family members to improve their safety and stability. This includes referrals for counseling services or substance abuse treatment for a mother who tested positive for meth.
Barcinas said DYS needs to ensure that the infant is in a safe home while monitoring the baby’s health.
Barcinas said there could be “kinship placement to a family member [or] foster placement while the mom or dad focuses on their recovery” through substance abuse treatment.
Sablan said they make sure that they intervene right away because usually, the infant is breastfed. “So [when] the baby is positive [for meth], the mom is positive, so we want to make sure we provide a safe placement,” she said, adding that DYS has an emergency shelter.
At 10:55 Tuesday night, Sablan said DYS responded to a report about another newborn who tested positive for meth. That case will be included in the FY 2025 data.
Sablan said prevention is key. “What we are doing today is actually one way of bringing awareness to the community, to let them know that the issue is real and it’s here. And look at how many households we are dealing with. We jumped from 24 to 40 in one year. That is a lot,” she said.
