Overview of Children and Youth Services January 30, 2012 Slide 2
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 childrens services. Authorities also contract
with community- based agencies for the provision of services. Slide
3 Regional Boundaries Slide 4 Slide 5 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 Slide 6 Community-based services are an
ongoing priority. Core services are now delivered at 17 worksites.
Slide 7 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 Legislation Child Intervention Slide 8 Finding a Child In Need
of Intervention Involving the Courts Delegated Authority Assessing
Risk Balancing Tensions Practice Child Intervention Tensions in
Child Welfare Protection of the Child Support to the Family Best
Interests of the Child Slide 9 Approximately 43% of children
(1,081) receiving protective services reside in foster care. Foster
Care Regional Statistics # of HomesLicensed Capacity Authority
Foster Homes327841 Agency Foster Homes218550 TOTAL5451,391 Slide 10
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. Kinship Care
Regional Statistics Slide 11 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 childs physical, emotional, social, cognitive
and spiritual wellbeing; Recognizes the value of past and current
significant relationships for the child; Maintains the childs
positive connections to family history, traditions, race and ethnic
heritage, culture, community, religion and language; Maintains the
childs positive connections to extended family, siblings, and other
significant adults where appropriate and based on the childs 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.
Slide 12 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.)
Permanency Planning Private Guardianship When the Order is granted
the Directors guardianship is terminated. Slide 13 In 2010-11, 118
adoption orders granted for children in the Regions 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
Permanency Planning Adoption Slide 14 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. Slide 15
Assists family with some of the extraordinary demands of raising a
child with a disability by: About the program 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. Slide 16 Legislation / Caseload
Family Support for Children with Disabilities Act proclaimed in
2004. Only legislation of its kind in Canada. Slide 17 CFSAs
Marlborough Office delivers the FSCD program. Seven teams serving:
City of Calgary Rural Delegated First Nation Agencies Program
Structure Slide 18 Regional Parent Advisory Committee 12 parents
representative of the Regions: Geography Diagnostic categories Age
child Provincial Parent Advisory Committee with regional parent
representation provides guidance to Ministry Citizen involvement
Slide 19 Overview of Regional Child Care Services Child Care
Subsidies Child Care Licensing Supported Child Care Child Care
Slide 20 We provide child care subsidies for low and middle-income
families. Approved child care programs: Child Care Child Care
Subsidy Child Care Centres Before & After School Care Family
Day Home Agencies Infant Care Incentives Slide 21 Supported Child
Care The Supported Child Care program provides additional funding
to support child care centres. oApproximately 375 children with
special needs are able to attend day care with extra support each
year. Child Care Slide 22 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 Slide 23 Roles
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 Provincial
Responsibilities: Shelters Policy, legislation, training Slide 24
Regional Priorities 2011/2012 Continued focus on collaborative work
with the Safe Communities initiatives related to domestic violence
in the Region Regional Coordinator, Manager and Exec Manager
Prevention of Family Violence & Bullying 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. Slide
25 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
