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B.C. failing to properly direct and fund child welfare services for Aboriginal youth: report

The report repeatedly criticizes wasteful MCFD spending on consultations centered around governance and service delivery consultations, to the detriment of front-line services and direct service provision.

Vancouver (07 Nov. 2013) - The B.C. government is failing to provide responsive, culturally appropriate and properly funded child welfare services to Aboriginal children, youth and their families, according to a report released by the Representative for Children and Youth.

New report shows failing for Aboriginal children, youth and families

“The report proves that the B.C. government has lost a decade of opportunity to provide proper support services to Aboriginal youth, children and their families, including failing to fund front line services,” says Doug Kinna, chair of BCGEU’s Social, Information and Health component.

The B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) endorses the five recommendations found in this report.

“The report is clear: B.C.’s Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) must improve its policies and standards for aboriginal children and youth and redirect funding to front line services, featuring overburdened child welfare workers,” says Kinna. He speaks on behalf of social workers and front-line staff in the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

The report repeatedly criticizes wasteful MCFD spending on consultations centered around governance and service delivery consultations, to the detriment of front-line services and direct service provision.

Major investment required to prevent future problems 

BCGEU/NUPGE believes that B.C.’s child protection system requires a major investment in resources, staffing, and training to help prevent recurring problems such as those evidenced by Turpel Lafond’s reports.

BCGEU/NUPGE represents over 200 Aboriginal service and social workers at Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society (VACFSS), La société de les Enfants Michif (Métis Family Services) in Surrey, Island Métis Family and Community Services Society (Victoria), Lii Michif Otipemisiwak Family & Community Services (Kamloops), Haida Child and Family Services Society (Massett and Skidegate) and Northwest Inter-Nation Child and Community Service Society (Prince Rupert and Terrace).

Aboriginal services are government social services devolved to aboriginal agencies that support Aboriginal families across B.C. These agencies offer a wide variety of services, such as child protection, family preservation/reunification, foster care, guardianship, and more. Aboriginal service workers are counselors and social workers for families, addiction-related issues, stop the violence programs, but also program managers, settlement and integration workers, and more.

Read the full report "When Talk Trumped Service: A Decade of Lost Opportunity for Aboriginal Children and Youth in B.C." 

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE