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Child, Youth and Family Services
March 30, 2012

Minister Announces Final Staff Transition for Department

The Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services, was in Happy Valley-Goose Bay today to announce the final transition of child, youth and family services staff and programs from the Labrador-Grenfell Regional Health Authority to the department.

“This is a big step towards continuing to fulfill our government’s commitment to building a revitalized child protection system and creating a new department from the ground up devoted solely to children, youth and their families,” said Minister Johnson. “This signifies a momentous milestone for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and I am so pleased to share in this exciting time with our newest staff members.”

On Monday, March 26, Minister Johnson welcomed a total of 95 staff from the Labrador and Grenfell Region to the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services. Over the span of one year, the department has successfully transitioned approximately 700 staff from each of the four Regional Health Authorities.

“It seems quite fitting to be here today as we conclude National Social Work Month to welcome our new staff to the department,” said Minister Johnson. “Our department will continue to benefit immensely from the passion and professionalism of these individuals and our government remains fully committed to supporting all staff as they deliver vital services to the most vulnerable children and youth in our province.”

Currently, a tailored approach to the new Labrador Region’s service delivery is being developed by the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services in consultation with leaders from the Innu Nation, Nunatsiavut Government, and the NunatuKavut Community Council through an established Steering Committee and Working Group. Part of the new Labrador model includes dedicated zone managers for the Innu and Inuit zones, and the collaborative approach with aboriginal leaders and communities will ensure best practices are put in place for the overall safety and well-being of children and youth.

Further to completing the transition process, the department has implemented a number of key undertakings throughout the course of 2011 including: proclaiming the progressive new piece of child protection legislation Children and Youth Care and Protection Act that provides the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services with the authority to intervene when a child or youth is the victim, or at risk, of harm or neglect by a parent; completing the redesign of its new provincial organizational model to ensure frontline staff and managers have the tools and supports required to effectively provide services to children who are in need of protective intervention; establishing a new Training Unit located in Stephenville that is dedicated to enhancing the skills of Child, Youth and Family Services staff and managers; and creating a new Quality Assurance Division that is responsible for developing and implementing a provincial quality assurance framework.

Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador affirms the Provincial Government’s funding commitment to children, youth and families with an additional $9.2 million investment into the department, bringing the total investment to $33 million in just two years.

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Media contact:
Michelle Hunt
Director of Communications
Department of Child, Youth and Family Services
709-729-5148, 725-1593
michellehunt@gov.nl.ca 

2012 03 30             12:45 p.m.

 
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