Released on June 14, 2001
The Saskatchewan government is seeking input from families, communitygroups, First Nations people, Métis people, frontline workers and other
stakeholders to explore whether changes may be required to the province's
child welfare system.
In a speech to child welfare stakeholders, Social Services Minister Harry
Van Mulligen emphasized the need to ensure children and youth are safe and
secure within their own families and communities.
"Based on the input of staff, stakeholders and the Child Welfare League of
America, we have made significant improvements to the child welfare system
over the last few years," Van Mulligen said. "Immediate action was
required to address the most pressing concerns in the system. We also
recognize the need for broader system-wide change and are now extending our
consultations to include front-line service providers such as schools,
health districts and police."
The consultations will focus on:
supporting the community to provide services for vulnerable
children and youth and their families that can replace government
child welfare services;
providing higher quality care for those children and youth in the
care of the minister;
increasing the involvement of First Nations and Métis governments,
children, families and communities in culturally appropriate child
welfare services; and
developing and reporting on accountability measures for child
welfare services.
The Minister also provided a detailed response to recommendations made by
the Children's Advocate to improve the child welfare system. He said the
proposed direction in child welfare services goes beyond the
recommendations made by the Children's Advocate in her recent review of
child welfare services.
Van Mulligen noted the 2001/02 provincial budget contained nearly $6.25
million in increased funding to address immediate concerns in the child
welfare system. These measures include the addition of 54 positions in
child welfare ($2.25 million). Government initiatives aimed at vulnerable
families, such as the Saskatchewan Action Plan for Children and Building
Independence have helped Saskatchewan become the only province to have
experienced a decline in child poverty in each of two consecutive years, as
reported by Campaign 2000 (a coalition of national and provincial advocacy
groups monitoring child poverty).
Social Services provides services to vulnerable children, youth and
families through child protection services, services for children and youth
in care of the department, the 16 and 17-year-old program and the adoption
program. Approximately 6,700 families receive child welfare services from
Social Services each year. In addition, there are approximately 2,900
children and youth in the care of the department.
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For more information, contact:
Doug Wakabayashi
Social Services
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-8689