Français
Français |
|
|
Principles Reports Links Contact Us Home |
|
 In March 2006, Manitobans were shocked by the tragic circumstances of a five year old child’s death. Two external reviews were called by the Minister of Family Services and Housing. The four child and family services authorities also initiated a quality assurance process to ensure the safety of children in their care. One external review, focusing on the standards, processes and protocols of case openings, closings and transfers within the system, was conducted by the External Child Welfare Review Committee, co-chaired by the Ombudsman, the Children’s Advocate and Michael Hardy (Executive Director of an Ontario First Nations child and family services agency). The second review, specific to deaths of children involved with the child and family services system, examined 99 cases from 2003 to 2006. It was conducted by the Child Death Review Team and was co-chaired by the Children’s Advocate and Dr. Jim Newton (Manitoba Adolescent Treatment Centre). Reports from these two reviews were released October 11, 2006, and contained over 200 individual recommendations for improving the child and family services system in Manitoba. Many of the key themes and recommendations in the external reviews are consistent with the plans to improve the child and family services system already initiated under the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry – Child Welfare Initiative (AJI-CWI). Together, the external review recommendations combined with the ongoing work of the AJI-CWI provide a blueprint to achieve substantial and long-lasting improvements in the child and family services system while recognizing that families, communities and service systems all share responsibility to protect children from harm. In response to the external review reports, Manitoba Family Services and Housing announced Changes for Children, a series of new strategic initiatives to be implemented over the next two years. The government committed an initial allocation of over $42 million to begin addressing the recommendations in the review reports and an additional $ 6.1 million to strengthen Manitoba’s foster care system, with an emphasis on recruitment, training and increased funding. To implement the Changes for Children initiatives, an Implementation Team was established under the leadership of two external co-chairs: Dr. Catherine Cook and Mr. Reg Toews. The team is comprised of the chief executive officers of the four child and family services authorities and two representatives from Manitoba Family Services and Housing. Family Services and Housing, and each Authority have also designated staff to provide dedicated support to the Implementation Team. The primary purpose of the team is to coordinate the planning and implementation of the Changes for Children initiatives. Since the external reviews were completed, two other reports have been released. The Office of the Auditor General released an audit of the Child and Family Services Division covering the years 2002/03 and 2003/04.The Office of the Children’s Advocate released a report titled “Strengthening Our Youth” which includes 45 recommendations to improve services for youth who are transitioning out of the care of the child and family services system. Both reports have been provided to the Changes for Children Implementation Team to consider those recommendations that are consistent with the themes and findings of the external reviews. For further information on actions already taken as a result of both the Children’s Advocate and Auditor Generals reports, please refer to press releases from January 10 and 11, 2007. Consistent with a major theme in these reports, the team has established that all implementation plans must:
The Implementation Team has adopted a vision statement for their work that embraces the principles of inclusiveness and transparency in the planning and reporting process. Through this website, the public can learn about the child and family services system, view the external review reports and stay informed about the continuing efforts to implement the Changes for Children agenda. The Implementation Team will update the site as developments occur. |