St. Dominic's Children's Home
The journey which St. Dominic’s Children’s Home has made, from its foundation in 1871 to the present time, can be traced using the various watershed moments that have marked our nation’s history, and that of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, Etrepagny – the French Congregation that assumed responsibility for its management in 1876.
Our Journey
Fast tracking to the 1960s, with its Independence Movement and the Second Vatican Council, followed by the Black Power Movement of the 1970s, these were pivotal decades, nationally and for the Church as dominant ideologies were deconstructed, and national/cultural identities began to be forged.
The Dominican Sisters were not untouched by these movements, which resulted in our French Sisters passing the baton of local leadership to the Sisters of the Region. Sr. Gloria Marie Laurie was the first Trinidadian Sister to hold the position of Manager of SDCH. A post she assumed in 1963.
More recently, circa 2000, a period of legislative reform dawned, driven by our government’s 1989 ratification of the Conventions on the Rights of the Child (the CRC). The period of reformation bore fruit, in 2015, with the proclamation of a suite of laws pertaining to the care, protection and rights of children.
Structure of the Home
The operations and administrative tasks of SDCH are guided by a Management Team (MT) led by the General Manager. The MT reports to the Board that comprises a blend of professionals with varying skillsets who are appointed by the Archbishop of Port of Spain.
Dominican Sisters of St Catherine of Siena
We, the Sisters of Siena, are a Congregation of women religious of the Order of Preachers, also called Dominicans. We originated in France in 1854. We came to Trinidad in 1868. We follow the Dominican tradition, which blends contemplative living with active apostolic work. We witness joyfully and confidently to the Gospel in the Caribbean, Canada, and France through education, social work, and nursing, pastoral ministry, and in many other ways which are required by the needs of our time.
The Dominican Sisters’ service in Trinidad commenced with their ministry to the lepers in Cocorite in 1868. The Sisters valiantly faced the uncertainties, sickness, and death that faced the early mission with bold resolve and steadfast faith. This ministry would witness the sisters accompanying the lepers to the island of Chacachacare, where they took care of their patients until 1950, ending 82 years of faithful service.
In 1871, Fr. Mariano Forrestier OP, founder of the St. Dominic’ s Orphanage in Belmont, invited the Dominican Sisters to assume responsibility for the care of the children. Msgr. William O’Caroll boldly approached Mother St. Dominic of the Cross to send Sisters to assume responsibility for the Home. Over the 153 years of its existence, the Home has nurtured thousands of children, expanded its facilities, introduced new programmes and alternative models of care, and provided staff training. Most importantly, vigilant attention continues to be paid to the spiritual and temporal needs of the children entrusted to the Sisters.
SDCH’s mission has been sustained over the decades by the hard work and commitment of the Dominican Sisters, lay employees, mutual assistance from the Archbishop, Government funding, and the unwavering generosity of countless benefactors. The extension of childcare through the establishment of homesteads at Sunny Hill in Barataria and Plainview in Arima, offered the same care to the children.
Circa 2000, a period of legislative reform dawned, driven by our government’s 1989 ratification of the Conventions on the Rights of the Child (the CRC). The period of reformation bore fruit, in 2015, with the proclamation of a suite of laws pertaining to the care, protection and rights of children. This included the Children’s Authority Act which led to the establishment of a Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (CATT) as the guardian of the nation’s children. This signaled a new dispensation within the now regulated Child Welfare system and created a friendly environment for the implementation, by SDCH, of a new practice model (the STEPERS Model1 ) that had emerged out of the organizational transformation exercise which began in 2008.
We invite you to further acquaint yourself with an in-depth history of St. Dominic’s Children’s Home, and its more than 150-year-long progression into the present era, by purchasing a copy of our beautifully illustrated and informative Sesquicentennial Anniversary book. Proceeds of the book contribute towards our mission to achieve our current VISION 2024/2025 initiatives. Learn more about the 150th Anniversary Book
Statement of Purpose
This Statement of Purpose is a document produced to reflect the arrangements in place for the operation of the St Dominic’s Children’s Home (SDCH). Our intention is that the Statement be kept under regular review in order to function as a benchmark in the provision, monitoring, and development of services. The Statement should be read against the backdrop of the principles underpinning the STEPERS Model and in conjunction with both the legislation relevant to our status as a licensed community residence and the standards developed by the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, for such residences.
OUR VISION
Children in difficult situations get the services they need, when they need it, and so come to enjoy stability within a caring family system, opportunities to develop their full human potential and more favourable adult outcomes.
OUR MISSION
To protect our most vulnerable children. To provide services along a continuum of care, promoting the well-being and holistic development of children and youth in difficult situations.
OUR VALUES
- Compassion
- Commitment
- Humility
- Knowledge and Competence
- Integrity
St Dominic’s Jubilee Journey
come, come with me to celebrate St. Dominic’s Jubilee
150 years was a very long and winding journey
from 1871 to 2021 de Home change up plenty
Fr Mariano started de ting for de street children of de city
and a benefactor buy de land and give him de property
dis good ole priest fostered children in need to help with poverty
from de Belmont Orphanage to Residential Child Care
de Home sits on de hills like a diamond solitaire
blessed by the glory of sunlight & heavenly winds of cheer
resilient against fires and storms as truth is we frontier
de West African Sankofa mythic symbolic bird take flight
as we look back at de past and move ahead to make, we future bright
over de years hands change and structures rewrite
de Dominican Sisters lead by foresight guided by the RC Church light
they set up in Arima and Barataria two more family sites
all three compounds now form one Home as dey unite
ah Board join de Sisters for a stronger platform
government give we ah subvention for good financial form
de Sisters seek agencies, sponsors and de village to come onboard
then de government put we under the SASC to reform
dey give CATT to oversee how we safeguard we children and perform
Sr Arlene and she management team do real ting
to ensure we children make we proud and spread dey wings
is STEPERS model, agriculture, cooking and beauty class occurring
each boy or girl getting an opportunity for proper learning
but we know some ah we children will pull de wrong strings
making we sad, but we still keep them in we prayer ring
leh we burst with joy and have grateful hearts
cause is 150 years unbroken service, de home never fall apart
we rally through good and bad times with bravehearts
we produce people with degrees and in de performing arts
this is de time to rekindle, refresh and recommit
yeah leh we commit to de Founding Spirit
leh we follow the Dominican Ethos and transmit
cause St Dominic’s vision and goals we must achieve it!
From the Community
“Soyez ce que Dieu a voulu que vous soyez, et vous mettrez le feu au monde”.
“Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire’’.
Home Manager - Sr. Arlene Greenidge
(2011 – Present)
Sr. Arlene Greenidge was appointed manager of St. Dominic’s in 2011. She was more than ready for this task. Her vocational focus was to work with “Youth/People at Risk”. Her education involved Social Work at both the Bachelor and Master level. Never missing out on the opportunity for learning, Sr. Arlene further entrenched herself in various courses to help with the difficult tasks of aiding and providing therapy for children and adolescents affected with psychological disorders, from depression to child trauma.
A visionary and mentor to all, Sr. Arlene continues to be deeply involved with the organizational transformation process and development of the St. Dominic’s Children’s Home, placing it above the rest by developing and implementing its strategic goals to deliver the ultimate Continuum of Care framework for our children in care.
Under the leadership of Sr. Arlene SDCH continues to evolve in tandem with 21st century innovations by expanding the educational, artistic, athletic, and developmental requirements available to children in need, through a continuum of care. This allows them to leave the Home better equipped, to integrate fully into society and reconnect with family.
Father Mariano Forestier, OP
Founder of St. Dominic’s Belmont Orphanage (Source: SDCH Anniversary Book- Pg 20)
Father Mariano Forestier, OP was born in 1831 in France. After he arrived in Port-of-Spain, he was entrusted with the construction of the Rosary Church. During the hardships between the early 1860s to 1870s Fr. Forestier became concerned with the plight of the poor and homeless children that were wandering through the streets of Port-of-Spain.
With this task in hand, Fr. Forestier, OP pursued and acquired a piece of land in Belmont, donated by a Catholic devotee, Mr. Le Roy. This was the birthing of great things to come, one that would see the home grow into a national institution. With the prayers, aspirations, and the assistance and perseverance of other devoted “helpers,” St. Dominic’s (Belmont) Orphanage was born. Fr. Forestier, OP died on April 20, 1901, at the age of seventy years.
Ms. Stephanie Blanc
Co-Founder of St. Dominic’s Belmont Orphanage (Source: SDCH Anniversary Book- Pg 21)
Born 1821 in Trinidad, Ms. Blanc was known as the co-foundress of the St. Dominic’s Orphanage. She earned this title due to the time and energy she expended in the interest of the children for twenty-five years. She was a devoted parishioner and would go barefooted because she could not afford a pair of shoes. Ms. Blanc was admirable by her total dedication to the welfare of the children at the time of great poverty, up till her death on September 7, 1903.