Following a review of private firms caring for children in hotels, the Manitoba government has assigned highly trained department staff to directly monitor contract workers and has begun taking steps to improve care while continuing to reduce reliance on hotels as temporary emergency shelters. This statement was made by Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross.
“Our goal is to eliminate the need to use hotels as emergency shelters for children as quickly as possible,” Minister Irvin-Ross said. “We are strengthening our network of foster homes and we are creating new shelters. We have already assigned Manitoba Family Services staff to oversee contract workers and will require better training to ensure the safety of children placed temporarily in hotels.”
The review was requested by the minister and conducted by Agency Accountability and Support Unit (AASU) of Manitoba Family Services. The review of contracted private firms found inconsistencies in the quality of care and in the value of the services provided, Minister Irvin-Ross said. While working to reduce the need for private firms, Manitoba Family Services will renegotiate contracts to improve requirements for training, supervision and communication, the minister added.
The review recommends the Manitoba government continue to reduce its reliance on contract workers. Earlier this year, the Manitoba government launched a major update of its programs for children in crisis to improve care, reduce reliance on hotels as emergency shelters, and redirect funds to key support services for families and children.
Among the key changes, the update will:
- create 71 new emergency foster home spaces;
- open a secure residential care unit to work with girls ages 12 to 17 who have complex needs;
- increase capacity to do multi-disciplinary clinical assessments of children with behavioural challenges;
- reduce reliance on contract workers by hiring 210 highly trained, permanent child-care workers over two years; and
- increase emergency resources in rural areas to care for children closer to their homes.
Minister Irvin-Ross said the Manitoba government is in the process of hiring the first 50 new youth care workers plus six co-ordinators and expects to implement the majority of the changes by spring of 2015.
