November 30, 2015
Manitoba Government Meets Timeline to End Use of Hotels for Youth in Care
– – –More Supports for Families at Home, More Resources for CFS Agencies: Minister Irvin-Ross
The Manitoba government has ended the use of hotels as emergency placements for children and youth in Manitoba Child and Family Services (CFS) care in all areas of the province, fulfilling a commitment to bring in more supports for families and additional resources for agencies, Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross announced today.
“We have created more appropriate options for caring for vulnerable children when a crisis occurs in their lives,” said Minister Irvin-Ross. “We’ve boosted resources for agencies so they have an appropriate and safe place for children in need of protection. We’re also investing more in better supports to help families look after their children at home.”
In partnership with CFS agencies, authorities and external service providers the province added 55 emergency shelter beds and 114 emergency foster beds throughout Manitoba since April 1 in the Winnipeg, Parkland and northern regions, Minister Irvin-Ross said, adding that 119 CUPE child protection support workers have been hired in the past year.
The increased supports for families include:
- expanding the Families First program in collaboration with community organizations,
- expanding the COACH program for children and youth with complex needs, and
- launching a child protection mediation service.
The increased resources for CFS agencies include:
- launching a new foster/kinship caregiver recruitment campaign,
- expanding the number of emergency shelter beds throughout Manitoba,
- expanding the number of emergency foster beds, and
- hiring more CUPE shelter staff for the Winnipeg CFS emergency placement resources program.
“We are encouraged by initiatives undertaken by the Manitoba government to ensure agencies and families have options to plan for their children and we look forward to partnering with the province to ensure more families are given the option of caring for their children,” said Felix Walker, executive director, Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) Child and Family Services. “Innovative programs at our wellness centre were recognized by Justice Hughes as a new and effective approach and, as in-home care is the future of child welfare, we are grateful for the province’s support and recognition of these programs.”
Minister Irvin-Ross said improvements to the child welfare system build upon earlier initiatives, particularly Changes for Children, an action plan stemming from reviews of the Manitoba Child and Family Services system after the murder of Phoenix Sinclair. Changes for Children resulted in major investments in better foster care, hiring more child-protection workers, improvements to child safety and greater accountability of agencies, the minister said.
The province is also being guided by the work of the Hughes commission and AMR Planning and Consulting, which recommended shifting emphasis to prevention and support services from protection measures, the minister said.
Information on the Hughes inquiry, its recommendations, Changes for Children and the ALL Aboard poverty reduction strategy can be found at www.gov.mb.ca/fs/index.html.
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