CHILD WELFARE PRESENTATIONS CONCLUDE

The panel tasked with examining all aspects of child welfare in Saskatchewan has finished three months of hearings and presentations and is now preparing a report to present to government this fall.

"I would like to thank the Child Welfare Review panel for all of their hard work to date on behalf of Saskatchewan children, youth and families, and I look forward to receiving the panel's report and recommendations," Social Services Minister June Draude said. "I would also like to commend all of the stakeholders and other concerned citizens who met with the panel or contributed written or online submissions over the past several months. I am confident that these combined efforts will result in a report that provides the foundation for a new direction for child welfare in Saskatchewan."

"Since April, we have met with more than 400 individuals representing stakeholder groups from communities across Saskatchewan, all with a fundamental concern for the safety and well-being of children and a desire to see changes to the current child welfare system," Panel Chair Bob Pringle said.

"As a panel, we were struck by the quality, comprehensiveness and passion of the presentations," Pringle said. "Our work now will focus on putting that information into a report that will provide solid recommendations for how to transform our child welfare system for the benefit of vulnerable children and their families."

Among the 85 groups the panel met with were 10 groups of First Nations Child and Family Services Agencies, elders, and Chiefs; the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN); the FSIN Women's Commission; the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan; the Saskatchewan Foster Families Association; Court of Queen's Bench Judges; Legal Aid; the Provincial Association of Transition Houses of Saskatchewan; and Ministry of Social Services staff, supervisors, and managers. Many people with direct experience with the child welfare system also attended the meetings. Approximately 80 written submissions from agencies and individuals and 57 website "e-consultations" were also received.

A number of provincial and First Nations/Métis organizations also engaged in separate processes of information gathering, organizing meetings that were attended by more than 800 people. The input received was then summarized and presented to the panel.

Throughout the review, the panel focused on the broad themes of prevention, protection, quality of care, family reunification, permanency and youth transition. The panel is currently finalizing their recommendations and report, which they plan to present to the Minister of Social Services by early October.

"The challenges being felt by the child welfare system in Saskatchewan are being felt across Canada," Pringle said. "In the course of our work, we have studied similar reviews from other jurisdictions, looking at their findings and best practices and how they might be applied here. We've also consulted with experts in child welfare from other provinces and at the national level.

"We are not alone in trying to find solutions to this critical issue," Pringle said. "I am confident that the dialogue begun during this review process can lead to a strong, inclusive and focused approach to improving the lives of children in care in the province."

The independent Child Welfare Review panel consists of Chair Bob Pringle of Saskatoon, Howard Cameron of the Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation, April Durocher of Saskatoon (originally from Île-à-la-Crosse), and Carol Skelton of Harris.

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For more information, contact:

Brian Miller
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0531
Email: brian.miller3@gov.sk.ca

Bob Pringle
Child Welfare Review
Saskatoon
Phone: 877-370-6511
Email: pringle@saskchildwelfarereview.ca