Child, Youth and Family Services
May 4, 2016

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services:

Minister Gambin-Walsh Provides Update on Waypoints Foster Family Support Pilot Project

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to provide an update on the Waypoints Foster Family Support Pilot Project. This project, which commenced in September 2015, is a collaboration between Child, Youth and Family Services, the Newfoundland and Labrador Foster Families Association, and Waypoints.

Waypoints, a non-profit organization providing child and youth care for more than 35 years, provides after hours support, crisis response and training to foster parents through this new pilot project. The project recognizes the current skills and expertise of foster parents and builds upon their competencies, further enhancing the quality of care provided to children and youth in care.

Currently, there are 17 foster families receiving support from the project and, since January 2016, four training sessions have been provided - The Impact of Trauma, Effective Discipline, Developing Relationships, and Taking Care of Yourself.

Mr. Speaker, our government continues its commitment to child protection with support of approximately $150 million in Budget 2016 which allows for ongoing initiatives such as this pilot. We know the positive impact this initiative is having on our foster families, and we will continue to work closely with Waypoints and the Newfoundland and Labrador Foster Families Association.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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2016 05 04                              2:25 p.m.