Jamaican Mission Program

History of Westhaven Children’s Home

Westhaven Children’s Home is an orphanage for handicapped children in Jamaica. It was started in 1986 by a group who saw the need for a residential facility to assist children with disabilities to reach their full potential.

The first cottage opened December 17, 1991, two more were opened in 1993, and the fourth cottage was opened in 2003. There are currently four fully operational cottages housing up to eighty children, ages three to twenty seven years old, with a wide variety of abilities. This varies from children with mild cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, and mental retardation to children with more profound handicaps. Full time care givers at Westhaven provide all necessary care including physical therapy and education.

The home is located on a former sugar plantation in the city of Copse. Copse is a small mountainous village outside of Montego Bay. The drive from the hotel takes about 45 minutes through some of the most beautiful scenery in Jamaica. This former sugar plantation is also home to the Copse Place of Safety.
The ongoing operational costs of the home are supported, in part, by the Jamaican Ministry of Health. However, the largest daily support comes from continuing donations from local and overseas individuals and groups.