Measures to monitor the safety and wellbeing of children placed in care facilities overseas were outlined in the House of Assembly yesterday after Opposition questions on the topic.

Robin Tucker, a One Bermuda Alliance MP and the Shadow Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, asked about what oversight mechanisms were in place when the programmes were selected and how checks were carried out once placements were made.

Government figures showed earlier that the number of children who needed overseas treatment for complex mental, behavioural or educational needs in 2025 was 16, compared with eight in 2024.

Ms Tucker asked yesterday what criteria, safeguards and oversight methods were used by the ministry and its Department of Child and Family Services when selecting and approving therapeutic schools abroad for Bermudian children.

Tinée Furbert, the youth, social development and seniors minister, replied that the schools must be licensed by any organisation responsible for the oversight of such facilities in that location and be accredited by a recognised body.

She added: “The school must be approved by the US Department of Homeland Security to accept or receive international students.

“The school is interviewed, assessed, vetted and must complete all documentation requested by the Department of Child and Family Services.

“The vetting assessment records programme description, resident life, activities, staffing, behaviour, restraint policies, student rights, medication storage and administration, and communication frequency.”

Ms Furbert said the process is completed annually.

Ms Tucker said there had been several reports of issues in facilities that were used by the DCFS for its psychoeducational programme and asked “what went wrong”.

The minister replied: “We cannot mitigate all risk.”

She added that a range of circumstances existed and said: “I can only repeat that the programmes are accredited, they go through evaluation, they go through assessment, they go through re-evaluation if that is necessary.

“Knowing the sensitive information as it relates to some of these cases, it’s difficult to speak to what those risks could be.”

Ms Tucker asked what monitoring is conducted once a child is placed overseas to ensure their safety.

MPs heard that a programme co-ordinator takes responsibility for the placement and works under the guidance of the DCFS assistant director or director.

Ms Furbert added: “Weekly calls are made with the therapist working with the child, monthly written reports are submitted to the co-ordinator for inclusion in the Protect Me case-management system.

“The calls are either voice or video, or a mixture of both.

“Every six months the director visits the child to lay eyes on them and have a one-on-one talk to ensure they are feeling safe and meeting their treatment goals.

“It is also an opportunity for the programme to indicate any challenges that they are having with any aspect of the programme.

“In accordance with the child protection policies, all schools are required to act as mandatory reporters. Whenever a report is filed, the director is immediately notified.

“Children receive the co-ordinator’s phone number and the facility has contact numbers for the department and the director, allowing communication at any time.

“Programmes embrace cultural sensitivity and incorporate religious and cultural recognition within the programme.

“Also, what has been new that has been implemented is the litigation guardian framework.

“If there is a child, as they are going through care orders within the court, they have access to a litigation guardian who also remains the voice for the child.”

Ms Furbert confirmed that parents are involved in the process and updated, in appropriate circumstances.

Robert King asked about a facility in the US where a Bermudian teenager died in 2019 and what increased measures were taken to ensure the safety and security of the island’s young people in overseas care.

Ms Furbert responded that the facility was no longer used by the DCFS.

A list of 20 contracts agreed by the DCFS was published in the Official Gazette in January and showed that the value of arrangements signed in 2025 totalled $3.91 million.

Of that, $3.55 million was linked to overseas schools and institutions that offered assessments and treatment programmes.