FOCUS ON CHILD WELFARE IN PROVINCIAL BUDGET

Ensuring Saskatchewan is a healthy, safe place to live for all of our children, including those at risk, is a priority of the 2009-10 Budget. Nearly $25 million has been dedicated to improving the province's child welfare system over the next year.

"This significant commitment of new funding to child welfare is only the first installment of a comprehensive, multi-year strategy," Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer said. "Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our children. Our government is putting children and youth first."

The child welfare funding in this year's budget includes $9.2 million in new capital funding to expand alternate space capacity, including group home development with community partners.

In addition, program resources for the child welfare system will be boosted by $15.7 million to support a variety of new initiatives. This represents a 17 per cent increase over last year.

New initiatives will include:

• Additional operating funding to expand space capacity for children and youth in care; 
• Partnership with First Nations and aboriginal groups to develop a Family Finders program; and
• An array of recruitment and retention initiatives.

Specific recruitment initiatives that will be funded include:

• Promotional activities in partnership with the Saskatchewan Foster Families Association (SFFA);
• Resources for a dedicated foster home recruitment specialist to attract aboriginal families;
• Resources to allow the SFFA to respond to initial inquiries from members of the public interested in becoming foster parents, as well as to support PRIDE training (Parent Resources for Implementation, Development and Education); and 
• Resources to implement a foster family referral program in partnership with the SFFA.

Specific retention initiatives that will be funded include:

• A three per cent increase to the child care rates provided to foster parents, in addition to the 17 per cent increase provided in the past 16 months;
• A three per cent increase to the child care rates provided to extended family caregivers, in addition to the 43 per cent increase provided in the past 16 months;
• New payment provisions to compensate foster families for their time in completing PRIDE training;
• Expansion to respite programming for foster families;
• Expansion of damage compensation for foster families; and
• Creation of a mentorship program for new foster parents in partnership with the SFFA.

Additional resources will also be provided to support standardized funding for residential services for children and youth.

This year will see nearly $67 million in capital funding for child welfare and housing projects, as well as for projects for people with disabilities.

"This funding includes the $29.9 million for projects already announced as part of our government's 'economic booster shot'," Harpauer said. "Additional capital in this budget totals $37 million."

The 2009-10 Budget also includes an increase of $27.2 million across government for community-based organizations to provide a further three per cent basic grant increase, over and above the additional funding announced in last year's budget and in September 2008.

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For more information, contact:

Trish Alcorn
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0916
Email: trish.alcorn@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-536-1479