REPORT ON BABY ANDY CASE RELEASED

The Government of Saskatchewan and the Montreal Lake Child and Family Agency (MLCFA) are taking action to improve the child welfare system following the release of the report into the Baby Andy case.

The review panel's report calls for improvements in a number of areas, including better communication and information sharing between MLCFA and the Department of Community Resources and Employment, effective accountability mechanisms, changes in case management and practice, better co-ordination of community services, and stronger government supports at all levels, including the federal government.

A major initiative to improve services is the establishment by the Department of a First Nations Unit to oversee the implementation of the report's recommendations. Four senior program managers and three trainers – four of which are new positions - will lead the work with First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) agencies and the Department.

Community Resources and Employment Minister Glenn Hagel and Montreal Lake Cree Nation Chief Ritchie Bird jointly received the report from the review panel last week and today committed to a plan of action.

Hagel said both federal and provincial governments need to work closely with First Nations to develop a comprehensive support and funding plan that will create an equivalent child welfare system on and off reserve.

"It is of the utmost importance that First Nations agencies have the capacity to provide a full range of child welfare services to ensure that children and families on reserve receive the same level and quality of services as those living off reserve," Hagel said.

Building on actions already underway, the plan announced today includes:

In addition to training already offered, a comprehensive child welfare training program is being implemented for all (FNCFS) agencies, including Montreal Lake.
The introduction of Kinship Care by the province will address children's safety and maintain their important connection to family, community and culture. Circling – a traditional aboriginal approach that brings people together and solves issues – has been introduced as a new approach off reserve to address child welfare issues.
The Department is phasing in its automated information system to all FNCFS agencies for tracking children and families as they move on and off reserve.
The Department will work with FNCFS agencies and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations to strengthen various local and provincial planning forums to enhance communications, improve service delivery and develop joint initiatives.
Co-ordination of community-based services and child welfare services will also be improved through information sharing, increased role clarity and joint casework.

"What happened is a tragedy," Hagel said. "We will learn from this report so that services for all children in Saskatchewan can be improved."

"It is our sincerest hope that the lessons we have learned from this review will help prevent a similar incident from occuring in the future," Chief Bird said. "We will work with all levels of government to serve the best interests of all our children."

As the review panel worked on the report, the Department and the Montreal Lake agency made immediate improvements. All case files at MLCFA were reviewed and every child and family was seen to ensure children are safe. Montreal Lake staff training improved and there was increased communications with community agencies.

The four-person panel focused on the services provided while Baby Andy and his siblings were in foster care, the decision to return the children to their parents, and services provided subsequent to the children's return home. The Children's Advocate Office conducted an independent fact-finding of the case and sat as an observer on the review panel.

The province will report progress on child welfare program improvements, including the recommendations in this report, within one year.

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For More Information, Contact:

Herman Hulshof Community Resources and Employment Regina Phone: (306)787-0916 Cell: (306)536-1479

Vic Taylor Montreal Lake Child and Family Agency Phone: (306)924-3991