Groenewegen says budget determines child protection
Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 13/00) - There are no guarantees help is on the way for child protection workers around the territory.
Last week, the Union of Northern Workers warned the government that child protection workers were over- worked and ready to break.
 Jane Groenewegen |
In Fort Smith, Hay River, and Inuvik, child protection workers carry a case load 40 per cent higher than nationally recognized standards.
In an interview Thursday, Health and Social Services Minister Jane Groenewegen said while her department was working to get more workers in the communities, it all hinges on budget approval next February.
"We have been doing something (to address needs), you will see specific things," said Groenewegen, quickly adding, "provided we receive budget approval.
"This one is a priority to me."
The UNW, which represents child protection workers, accuses her department of ignoring the problem for months.
The union pointed to a report that was tabled at the Legislative Assembly in June which warned child protection workers had reached a crisis point.
| NWT cases per worker
National standard (1999 statistics):
* Deh Cho - 36
|
The report titled "It Takes a Community," compiled by the Child Welfare League of Canada, identified the Deh Cho region and Yellowknife as trouble spots and added that 22 new workers needed to be hired across the territory.
The department responded last week by giving the Yellowknife Health and Social Services board the go ahead to hire three new staff.
Groenewegen said the reason her department had not responded earlier was because there had not been a concerted effort by the board and the workers to communicate with her department.
"I didn't here from the board back then (in June)," said Groenewegen.
No other staff are scheduled for hiring in other parts of the territory but workers, union representatives and MLAs met last Thursday.
