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Overview of Children and Youth Services January 30, 2012. Governance. There are 10 Child and Family Services Authorities (CFSAs) in Alberta. Each is led by a community board, chosen from the community and appointed by the Minister of Children and Youth Services.
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Overview of Children and Youth Services January 30, 2012
Governance There are 10 Child and Family Services Authorities (CFSAs) in Alberta. • Each is led by a community board, chosen from the community and appointed by the Minister of Children and Youth Services. • More than 600 Calgary and Area CFSA staff help deliver a range of provincial children’s services. • Authorities also contract with community-based agencies for the provision of services.
Desired Outcomes • Supporting vulnerable children to live successfully in the Community • Children in temporary care will be reunited quickly with their family • Children in permanent care will be placed in permanent homes as quickly as possible • Youth will be transitioned to adulthood successfully • Aboriginal children will live in culturally appropriate placements
Community-based services are an ongoing priority. Core services are now delivered at 17 worksites.
ChildIntervention Legislation • Legislation • Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act • Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act (PSECA) • Drug-Endangered Child Act (DECA) • Regulations & Policy • Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act (Proclaimed November 2004, Amended 2010) • Major Changes: • Move from the word “Protection” to “Intervention” • Matter to be Considered • Differential Response • Cumulative Time in Care
ChildIntervention Practice • Finding a Child In Need of Intervention • Involving the Courts • Delegated Authority • Assessing Risk – Balancing Tensions Tensions in Child Welfare Protection of the Child Support to the Family Best Interests of the Child
Foster Care Regional Statistics • Approximately 43% of children (1,081) receiving protective services reside in foster care.
Kinship Care Regional Statistics • Kinship Care is family based care where the child has relationship with the family providing care. • Approximately 11% of children (350) receiving protective services reside in kinship care.
Permanency Planning Overview Permanency planning: • Occurs in a purposeful and collaborative way; • Respects the specific circumstances of the child and family of origin; • Ensures the child’s physical, emotional, social, cognitive and spiritual wellbeing; • Recognizes the value of past and current significant relationships for the child; • Maintains the child’s positive connections to family history, traditions, race and ethnic heritage, culture, community, religion and language; • Maintains the child’s positive connections to extended family, siblings, and other significant adults where appropriate and based on the child’s needs; • Minimizes disruptions for the child; • Considers the perspective of the child; and • Ensures that the child has the opportunity to mature to his or her potential with a strong natural support network.
Permanency Planning Private Guardianship • Under the Enhancement Act, a caregiver who has had at least one month continuous care of a child may apply for Private Guardianship. • The child must be under an In-Care Agreement or Order before applying. • An approval process is required. (criminal record check, child intervention history check, home assessment.) • When the Order is granted the Director’s guardianship is terminated.
Permanency Planning Adoption • In 2010-11, 118 adoption orders granted for children in the Region’s care. • The target for 2011-12 is a total of 164 finalized adoptions and private guardianship orders. • Adoption services are delivered at two worksites: • Forest Lawn Multi Service Team • Native Multi Service Team
Supportive services and financial assistance may be provided to families who adopt or become private guardians of children who were previously in permanent care. • Family may also receive FSCD services.
About the program Assists family with some of the extraordinary demands of raising a child with a disability by: • Offering family-centred supports and services • Providing information, referral, advocacy and support • Facilitating developmental growth • Support participation in community life • Working with families to assess unique needs. • Focusing on building parental capacity and ensuring parental responsibility.
Legislation / Caseload • Family Support for Children with Disabilities Act proclaimed in 2004. • Only legislation of its kind in Canada.
Program Structure • CFSA’s Marlborough Office delivers the FSCD program. • Seven teams serving: • City of Calgary • Rural • Delegated First Nation Agencies
Citizen involvement • Regional Parent Advisory Committee • 12 parents representative of the Region’s: • Geography • Diagnostic categories • Age child • Provincial Parent Advisory Committee with regional parent representation provides guidance to Ministry
Child Care • Overview of Regional Child Care Services • Child Care Subsidies • Child Care Licensing • Supported Child Care
Child Care Subsidy Child Care We provide child care subsidies for low and middle-income families. • Approved child care programs: • Child Care Centres • Before & After School Care • Family Day Home Agencies • Infant Care Incentives
Child Care Supported Child Care • The Supported Child Care program provides additional funding to support child care centres. • Approximately 375 children with special needs are able to attend day care with extra support each year.
Prevention of Family Violence & Bullying Legislation • Prevention Against Family Violence Act (1999) • Emergency Protection Orders • Prevention Against Family Violence Act (2006) • Added stalking to the definition Prevention Against Family Violence Act (2011) • Further amendments add penalties to make this the strongest Act of its kind in Canada
Prevention of Family Violence & Bullying Roles • Provincial Responsibilities: • Shelters • Policy, legislation, training • Regional: • Outreach Funding • Linkage with Child Intervention Services • Partnerships with Safe Communities funded agencies • Domestic Conflict Response Teams • Immigrant • Aboriginal • High Risk Offenders
Prevention of Family Violence & Bullying Regional Priorities 2011/2012 • Support improved practice in responding to issues of family violence for families receiving Child Intervention Services. • Working with partners to ensure a collaborative approach to safety planning is used. • Continued focus on collaborative work with the Safe Communities initiatives related to domestic violence in the Region • Regional Coordinator, Manager and Exec Manager
Child Intervention Intake Line – 403 297 2995 Foster Care Intake Line – 403 297 5957 FSCD Intake Line - 403 297 6022 Child Care Intake Line – 403 297 6100 Adoption Intake Line – 403 297 6038