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Health and Community Services Justice April 30, 2007 Strengthening the Province �s Child, Youth and Family Services SystemThrough an unprecedented investment of almost $6.5 million this year, annualized at over $9 million, the Williams Government is working to strengthen the Child, Youth and Family Services (CYFS) system in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Health and Community Services, and the Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Justice, today provided an update on actions the Provincial Government announced following the release of the Turner Review and Investigation last fall, including the release of the Deloitte organizational and operational review, and outlined further details on how investments in Budget 2007 will help to strengthen the system. "Our government recognizes the need to make appropriate investments to strengthen the child, youth and family services system," said Minister Wiseman. "Through the release of three reports in the last two years � Minister�s Advisory Committee on the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, Turner Review and Investigation, and the Deloitte Organizational and Operational Review � we have seen consistent themes emerging around the need to make investments in the system. In Budget 2006, we committed to add new social work positions to the system over three years. I am pleased that we are able to build on that commitment this year through an unprecedented investment in Budget 2007 which will allow us to make significant improvements to the system this year and in the coming years.""These reports clearly indicated the need for changes to the way we provide legal services to those who require this type of support," said Minister Osborne. "We have provided the resources needed to improve the services we provide in support of our social workers, as well as the families they serve, and look forward to the improvements these investments will achieve." Through an investment of almost $6.5 million this year, and over $9 million annualized, government will strengthen the CYFS system by: Highlights of these investments include the addition of a total of 118.5 new positions this year to enhance the delivery of CYFS programs in the province. This includes a total of 97.5 new positions at the four regional health authorities - 51 new social workers, 11 clinical supervisors and 35.5 support positions, including clerical, information technology support, social work assistants, behaviour management specialists and family support workers. The addition of 21 new positions in the Department of Health and Community Services including consultants, managers, analysts, a statistician, and administrative support positions. These new positions will enable the department to provide leadership for the CYFS system, with a focus on training, quality assurance and improving the computerized information system. As well, 30 summer social work student positions will be funded annually to support the recruitment of social workers upon graduation. This is in addition to the Provincial Government �s commitment in Budget 2006 to add 55 new social work positions over three years.The Department of Health and Community Services has recently developed a provincial professional development and training team to ensure that all social workers have access to orientation, training and ongoing professional development. New orientation guidelines have been developed to include orientation and specialized training for all social workers and supervisors in the province. Effective May 1, 2007, all new social workers entering the CYFS System will receive orientation before being assigned a caseload. Key components of the orientation guidelines include the completion of basic introduction, a mentorship assignment and advanced orientation. "This is a significant step which we believe will result in increased confidence among new social workers, assist with recruitment and retention efforts and improve the services we deliver," said Minister Wiseman. The Provincial Government will make quality assurance a priority through the establishment of a departmental quality assurance and initiatives unit to focus on improved clinical practice including documentation and recording standards, establishing a provincial auditing system, data analysis for program planning and monitoring of the outcomes for the children, youth and families served. The computerized Client Referral Management System (CRMS) will be strengthened to make it more user-friendly and responsive to the unique needs of the CYFS workers and managers. In recognition of the importance of ensuring the best possible legal support for social workers, a total of $484,100 is provided to create four new solicitor positions to be located within each of the regional health authorities to provide dedicated legal counsel specifically in the areas of child protection matters. A further $672,800 will be invested to advance, in partnership with the Department of Justice �s Family Justice Service Initiative, an alternate dispute resolution process for child protection cases, including addressing current lengthy wait times for court cases by reducing the volume on the courts through mediation.The Child Youth Family Services investment of $462,400 for an additional two lawyers, two paralegals and one social worker provides immediate support to families in crisis whose children are in need of protection. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary has also dedicated a full-time position to deal with child protection matters. The Provincial Government further invested $250,000 for a Family Law Team under the Poverty Reduction Strategy in Budget 2007. This will provide enhancements to Civil Legal Aid and Family Justice Services and will largely benefit women and children. A further $40,000 will be spent on increasing the hours of liaison workers who work with witnesses and legal aid counsel to ensure successful communications. In addition, a Child Death Review Committee has been created to examine the circumstances under which children under the age of two die as a result of questionable causes. "These are all vital investments into services which have significant impacts on the lives of those who need them. Our department has taken a serious look at what services were needed and taken the steps to implement these needs. For example, having access to dedicated legal counsel will greatly improve program delivery and provide the support needed to improve the timeframes in which child protection issues are addressed," said Minister Osborne. "The investments will provide a more consistent and efficient approach for those dealing with the legal system on such vital issues." "Through an effective working relationship with each of the four regional health authorities and government, we will collectively implement an action plan that addresses the very issues raised in the last two years," said Minister Wiseman. "While various components of the plan will support immediate steps, we recognize and are committed to ensuring that we make meaningful progress over the long term. I am confident that through the commitment of government and the regional health authorities, we will strengthen the system and thereby work to ensure the safety, health and well-being of children and youth, while supporting their families as mandated under the CYFS Act. �-30- 1. Organizational and Operational Review of Child,
Youth and Family Services � Executive Summary Media contacts:
0207 04 30 12:25 p.m.
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