Child, Youth and Family Services
January 3, 2014

Strengthening Child, Youth and Family Services in 2013

Implementation of Key Strategies Helping to Ensure Best Interests of the Child

The transformation of service delivery for children, youth and their families has remained a key priority for the Provincial Government throughout 2013. Significant progress continues to be made in the areas of child protection with the creation of nearly 80 new foster homes, as well as child care services that has seen almost a 70 per cent increase in the number of regulated child care spaces throughout the province.

“As our government focuses on driving positive change within the child protection system, further implementation of the Continuum of Care Strategy demonstrates our ongoing commitment to improve the care options for children and youth in need of out-of-home placement. In just over one year the Foster a Future promotional campaign, a key component of this strategy, has not only created awareness of the critical shortage of foster homes in our province, but also generated over 100 new placements in almost 80 new foster homes.”
- The Honourable Paul Davis, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services

To date, the first two levels of the new four-level system for out-of-home placement options under the Continuum of Care Strategy has been fully implemented and the implementation of the remaining two levels has commenced.

The department also officially released the 10-Year Child Care Strategy, Caring For Our Future: Provincial Strategy for Quality, Sufficient and Affordable Child Care in Newfoundland and Labrador in February 2013. Over the course of this year, the department has continued to strengthen regulated child care services throughout the province with the introduction of new initiatives and improvements to existing programs and services.

“Since 2003, the Provincial Government has increased the number of regulated child care spaces throughout Newfoundland and Labrador by almost 70 per cent. As we continue to implement Caring For Our Future, our government remains committed to promoting healthy child development as well as addressing the quality, sufficiency and affordability of child care services for families with young children.”
- Minister Davis

Further details on the Continuum of Care Strategy and the 10-Year Child Care Strategy, Caring For Our Future, are outlined in the backgrounder below.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to supporting important social programs, strong communities and the health and well-being of children, families and seniors.

QUICK FACTS

• The Continuum of Care Strategy continues to drive positive change within the child protection system for children and youth in need of out-of-home placement.
• In particular, since the Foster a Future…Foster a Child Today multi-media recruitment campaign was launched in November 2012, it has helped to create over 100 new placements in almost 80 new foster homes.
• In 2010, there was a high of 72 children in Alternate Living Arrangements and as of this December, with children being matched to more suitable placements such as foster homes, this number has been reduced significantly to approximately 20.
• Since 2003, the Provincial Government has increased the number of regulated child care spaces throughout Newfoundland and Labrador by almost 70 per cent, from 4,609 spaces to 7,787.

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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 

BACKGROUNDER
Child, Youth and Family Services’ Key Milestones in 2013

The Department of Child, Youth and Family Services has made significant progress throughout the year with the continued implementation of:

• Continuum of Care Strategy
  • implementing Levels 1 and 2 are now complete. These levels provide compensation specific to each level by recognizing the experiences, training and skills of foster parents and matching children and youth with a foster family which best meets their specific needs;
  • awarding a Request for Proposals for the development of a training program for specialized (level 3) foster homes; and,
  • evaluating a Request for Proposals for level 4 contracted staffed residential placements, which is expected to be awarded in the coming months.

• 10-Year Child Care Strategy - Caring For Our Future: Provincial Strategy for Quality, Sufficient and Affordable Child Care in Newfoundland and Labrador
  • creating an additional 465 regulated spaces in 21 child care centres under the Child Care Capacity Initiative;
  • developing a total of 754 child care spaces in 133 regulated family child care homes under the Family Child Care Initiative;
  • implementing the revised Early Learning and Child Care Supplement based on position held with eligible early childhood educators working in a child care homeroom receiving $6,660 annually and early childhood educators working as program operators receiving $10,000 annually;
  • awarding Requests for Proposals to review the Child Care Services Subsidy Program and to develop an operating grants program for commercial and non-profit child care centres; and,
  • reviewing the current inclusion supports program and the Child Care Services Act and Regulations.

2014 01 03             10:20 a.m.