FOR THE RECORD
2005CFD0018-001002 Nov. 3, 2005	Ministry of Children and Family Development
SOCIAL WORKERS AND CHILDREN-IN-CARE

VICTORIA – The following are the facts about social workers and children-in-care in British Columbia:

 

Child protection workload is dropping

·        The ratio of children-in-care to Child Protection social workers has gone down by 26 per cent since 1997/98.

• In 1997/98, there were 8.9 children-in-care for each Child Protection social worker. In 2004/05, this had been reduced to 6.6 children-in-care per Child Protection social worker.* 

·        Turnover of Ministry of Children and Family Development staff has dropped 30 per cent over the last four years.

 

There are fewer children in the care of government

·        Government policy and resources are focused on supporting children in their families, supporting aboriginal agencies, and increasing the number of adoptions.

• The number of children-in-care is down 16 per cent – from 11,000 in 2001 to 9,000 in 2005.

·        Since 2001, the Ministry of Children and Family Development has doubled the number of adoptions of children in care. There are now more than 300 adoptions a year.

 

B.C. government measures to support social workers and children-in-care:

 

Increased funding to support children-in-care

• Per capita funding for children-in-care has increased from $32,780 in 2000/01 to $39,876 in 2004/05 – a 21 per cent increase.
• Funded a total of 74 new post-secondary seats for social work and child protection since 2002/03 to 2005/06.

·        Increased funding to support the government’s goal of keeping families together and finding alternatives to government care from 2000/01 to 2004/05:

o       Funding for out-of-care and alternatives to care is up (from $400,000 to $2.4 million – a 450 per cent increase between 2000/01 and 2004/05);

o       Funding for aboriginal services is up (from $11.2 million to $17.3 million – a 54 per cent increase between 2000/01 and 2004/05).

o       Funding to support adoptions is up (from $3.3 million to $17.3 million – a 400 per cent increase between 2000/01 and 2004/05);

• Funded a total of 74 new post-secondary seats for social work and child protection since 2002/03 to 2005/06.

 

Government is reviewing the child protection system

·        Appointed a Child and Youth Panel chaired by Ted Hughes to review oversight, public reporting and advocacy within B.C.’s child and youth protection system.

·        Other members of the panel include Ed John (former NDP Minister of Children and Families), Joyce Preston (former Child, Youth and Family Advocate), Jane Morley (current independent Child and Youth Officer), Terry Smith (British Columbia’s Chief Coroner), and Maureen Nicholls (former commissioner, Public Service Employee Relations Commission).

·        The panel will report by the end of January 2006. Any recommended changes will be considered in the spring 2006 legislative session.

 

*These figures are based on a workload model designed by the previous government.

 

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Media contact:	Theresa Lumsdon Ministry of Children and Family Development 250 356-0233
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