Investing in our Families: A Secure Future for Children and Youth

Budget 2013: A Sound Plan, A Secure Future enhances program and service delivery to children and youth with focused investments totalling $185.3 million for the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services.

“Over $185 million in Budget 2013 demonstrates our government’s commitment to improving essential program areas, such as child care, child protection and youth services,” said the Honourable Joan Shea, Acting Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services. “Through Budget 2013 investments such as hiring new frontline positions and expanding a pilot program to reach more youth transitioning into early adulthood, we will continue to make the necessary reforms to safeguard our children and youth through accountability, best practice and consistency in all programs in every region.”

Areas of key investments include: child care through the 10-Year Child Care Strategy; child protection through the continuum of care strategy; youth services with the expansion of the Supporting Youth with Transitions pilot program; staffing with the hiring of four new frontline positions; and, continued support to place social worker students with the department. Minister Shea also noted the investment of $1 million announced on Friday, March 22, for a Task Force on Child Exploitation and Drugs that aims to protect the province’s children and make communities safer. Consisting of highly trained members of the RNC and the RCMP, the task force will work on serious criminal cases from its own dedicated facility.

“Budget 2013 will provide investments to further strengthen the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services’ core mandate to ensure the safety and well-being of our children and youth,” said Minister Shea. “These investments also reflect our government’s vision to create safer communities and secure prosperity for the next generation through sound planning for the future of Newfoundland and Labrador.”

For further details see the Backgrounder: Key Investments for Child, Youth and Family Services in Budget 2013.

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• Backgrounder: Key Investments for Child, Youth and Family Services in Budget 2013

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2013 03 26                               3:30 p.m.