Released on March 19, 2014
The province will increase its investment in the Saskatchewan Child and Family Agenda by $8.7 million in 2014-15 to meet the needs of children, youth and families at risk. In total, the province has committed nearly $62.5 million in new funding to the agenda since it was created in 2011.“Our government believes in growth not for the sake of growth, but to make life better for everyone in Saskatchewan, and that starts with vulnerable children,” Social Services Minister June Draude said. “This year, we are focusing on the critical areas of education, health, family supports and community safety – things that are important to families and vital to securing a better quality of life for all Saskatchewan people.”
Initiatives under the Saskatchewan Child and Family Agenda for 2014-15 include the following:
- The Ministry of Health is leading the work of the Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan. During public consultations held last fall, more than 3,000 submissions were received and over 300 individuals participated in 18 communities. A final report is expected in the fall of 2014.
- To help keep families together and prevent children from coming into care, Social Services is increasing intensive family supports and after-hours services to families. The ministry is also expanding the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) to give parents the skills and confidence they need to parent well and address common child and adolescent social, emotional and behavioural problems.
- As part of the Building Partnerships to Reduce Crime initiative, two additional Centres of Responsibility (CORs) will be implemented in 2014 in locations to be determined. The CORs are made up of human service professionals who collaborate on longer-term solutions to crime reduction and victimization. In addition, 10 HUBS have been implemented in Prince Albert, Yorkton, La Ronge, North Battleford, Moose Jaw, Estevan/Weyburn, Nipawin, Saskatoon, Lloydminster and Swift Current, and there are several other communities interested in implementing this model. The HUB is a multi-disciplinary group of front-line workers that provides immediate intervention and short-term solutions.
- 500 additional licensed child care spaces will be created to help meet the unprecedented demand for child care and to support positive child development, early literacy and student achievement in addition to enabling parents to pursue their education or employment.
- To support the social, emotional, intellectual, language and literacy development of three- and four-year olds, an additional 15 new Prekindergarten programs will be created to support vulnerable children, families and communities.
- The Ministry of Education is leading the work of implementing the recommendations from the Joint Task Force on Improving Education and Employment Outcomes in Saskatchewan, and will continue to work with First Nation and Métis partners to ensure equitable education outcomes for all First Nations, Métis and non-Aboriginal students.
“Since 2011 when the agenda was launched, we have increased licensed child care spaces and pre-K programs, decreased the number of children coming into care, created new government/community partnerships to reduce crime, and expanded services to those with Autism and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder,” Draude said. “Our investments are helping to make a real difference in the lives of at-risk children, youth and their families.”
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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