HAMILTON. Bermuda, CMC – The Bermuda government has defended a programme that allows a small number of children in the care of the Director of the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) with severe and complex mental health, psychiatric, behavioral, and educational needs to be sent overseas for treatment.
“These are not routine cases. They involve levels of risk and complexity that require specialised intervention that cannot be provided locally, to protect the child and, in some cases, others,” the Government said in a statement.
Youth, Social Development and Seniors Minister, Tinee S. Furbert, said that when the Director has care of a child, the Government has a duty to act, and that decisions are carefully made based on professional assessment, with the child’s safety, well-being, and dignity being paramount.
“Overseas therapeutic services are used only when a child’s needs cannot be met here at home, and when delaying care would place that child or others at risk,” Furbert added.
The statement said that the Government’s position is clear and that “children should be supported as close to home as possible, with family, cultural connection, and community support.
“Overseas therapeutic services are not a first option and are used only when professional assessment confirms that the level of care required is not available locally.”
It said that under the Children Act 1998, when a child is in the care of the Director, the Government has a legal duty to protect that child and to ensure their health, safety, and well-being.
The statement notes that Bermuda is a small jurisdiction and that while there are committed professionals across health, education, and social services, there are limits to the highly specialised, intensive services that can be provided at all times.
The rarity and intensity of these cases mean that the required level of specialised care cannot always be sustained locally,” the statement said, noting that in 2025, there was an increase in the number of children requiring overseas therapeutic support, with many requiring more extended periods of care due to the severity of their circumstances. The statement did not provide any figures.
“As diagnostic tools improve and earlier intervention becomes more common, more children with complex needs are being identified,” it said, reiterating that when overseas care is required, children are referred only to licensed and accredited facilities that have been rigorously vetted.
“DCFS works with a limited number of approved overseas providers, each selected for specific clinical, behavioral, and therapeutic expertise. These facilities are subject to ongoing monitoring and review. Placements are also subject to regular progress monitoring and planning for eventual reintegration into the local community.”
The statement said that the overseas therapeutic programme within DCFS has been in place for more than 20 years, and exists because some children’s needs cannot be met safely within Bermuda despite best efforts across services. As clinical understanding improves, more children with complex needs are being identified earlier.
The Bermuda government said that strengthening local capacity remains a priority, with the long-term aim of reducing the need for overseas placements wherever possible.
But it acknowledged that “when local options cannot safely meet a child’s needs, the Government must act.
“The safety, dignity, and future of Bermuda’s children remain paramount,’ it added.
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