Legislation and funding changes to tackle Manitoba’s child welfare crisis

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Legislation and funding changes to tackle Manitoba’s child welfare crisis

October 12, 2017
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Premier Brian Pallister announced changes on Thursday, October 12, 2017, that will end the child welfare crisis in Manitoba.

Speaking at an event at the Andrews Street Family Centre the premier said that the number of children in care has nearly doubled in the past decade.

“Manitoba has among the highest rates in the country. We made a promise in the 2016 Throne Speech and 2017 Budget to reform the system with a goal of fewer children in care, stronger partnerships with families and communities, better service co-ordination, and greater transparency and accountability across the system,” said Pallister.

The premier said that the province had made a commitment to develop a comprehensive plan that acts on recommendations from The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Indigenous organizations and the Children’s Advocate.

[jaw_quote author=”Brian Pallister – Premier of Manitoba” ]We know we can do better for our children.[/jaw_quote][jaw_clear]

Families Minister Scott Fielding point to four essential areas of reform the province is looking at changing

• develop a community-based prevention model that involves demonstration sites, co-ordination of cross-departmental services and increased alignment of federally funded services on reserve;
• create lifelong connections for children through reunification and permanence, which includes improved emergency placement resources to shorten duration in care through early case planning and family reunification through a multi-disciplinary assessment team and availability of family group conferencing, as well as evidence-based permanency initiatives such as subsidized guardianship and modernized adoption;
• fund for results through initiatives such as block funding pilots to Child and Family Services agencies that fund based on outcomes, rather than provide incentives for larger caseloads and longer stays in care; and
• reform legislation, which includes the creation of a legislative review committee to modernize The Child and Family Services Act and support a shift in practice.

“We want to keep children and youth safely within their family networks and home communities. We must reduce the number of children coming into care by supporting families, communities and neighbourhoods and inviting them to be part of the solution,” said Fielding.

Currently, there are about 11,000 children in care in Manitoba with the majority being indigenous. The province spends about $514 million per year to keep kids in care. The current system pays Child and Family service agencies based on the number of kids they have in care. The new funding model will provide money based on outcomes rather than incentives for larger caseloads.

Feilding said that the government plans on reviewing legislation before spring 2018 with the idea of amending it to support various permanency options. Fielding admitted that government departments must work together to provide a more seamless access to supports for families to prevent the need for apprehension.

“Sandy Bay Child and Family Services is excited about the block funding pilot project and the unprecedented flexibility to support families in a way that was not possible before,” said Richard De La Ronde, executive director, Sandy Bay Child and Family Services. “This government’s child welfare reform takes into consideration the innovation happening within communities providing those services.”

-News 4-