February 04, 2005

A progress report released today outlines improvements to the shelter system for children who come into care including the launch of 50 new spaces with foster care resources for children under the age of eight.

"I am pleased with the progress being made to further ensure high-quality care for children in need," said Family Services and Housing Minister Christine Melnick. "Today’s announcement means more emergency foster families will be able to provide home-like settings for children who come into care, and additional improvements to enhance the quality of care throughout the emergency shelter system."

Among the improvements:

• creation of 50 new emergency care foster beds including 35 beds at B & L Homes and 15 beds at Community Led Organizations United Together (CLOUT) for children under age eight;

• addition of a new provincial abuse investigator;

• addition of one new licencing staff member in the Child Protection Branch;

• reduction of 24-hour staff shifts in emergency shelters; and

• provision of training for shelter staff.

The minister also announced that a quality assurance program, eliminated in 1998, will be re-established for children’s residential care facilities. This program complements the agency accountability unit of Manitoba Family Services and Housing and further strengthens government’s oversight capacity.

"Ensuring quality of care means, in addition to financial accountability, the department must make certain that the standard of care can and does meet the child’s needs," said Janet Mirwaldt, the children’s advocate. "I am encouraged the department will be re-establishing the quality assurance program which should allow for the integration of both financial and service accountability in residential care."

The Office of the Children's Advocate completed its report in 2004 after a 15-month review of all aspects of the shelter system, which provides much needed short-term care to children found in unstable family settings. In response to the report’s recommendations, the minister appointed the Shelter Review Implementation Committee, co-chaired by Dr. Denis Bracken of the University of Manitoba and including representation from the four child and family service authorities.

The committee selected B & L Homes to recruit, train and support foster parents for 35 new spaces and provide ongoing services for children placed there. CLOUT, a group of community-based organizations including Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, Native Women’s Transition Centre, Community Education Development Association, Andrews Street Family Centre, North End Women’s Centre, Ndinawemaaganag Endaawad, Rossbrook House and Wolseley Family Place, was selected to provide services for an additional 15 bed spaces.

As of today 35 beds are open and it is anticipated that all 50 will be in place by the end of March. Both service providers have signed service purchase agreements which detail the quality and service expectations of the organizations prior to the awarding of these beds. Some on-site visits were also conducted.

In addition, government has continued its support to Manitoba foster families through increases to the basic maintenance rate paid to foster families and through the restoration of funding to the Foster Family Network. In November, the province announced a 40-per-cent increase in funding to the network, which provides supports to foster families.

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