Workers nearing breaking point
Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 08/00) - While caseloads mount, child protection workers say the government is turning a blind eye to a growing crisis.
A spokesperson for the Union of Northern Workers says despite a report tabled in the spring, the GNWT has yet to address workers' concerns.
That report titled "It Takes a Community," called for the immediate hiring of 22 new workers across the territory.
Yellowknife child protection workers say they've waited long enough. They have too many cases and too few people and want 10 new staff to ease the burden.
"They're ready to break," said UNW communications officer Barbara Wyness.
"Our workers are loaded with unmanageable workloads."
Yellowknife child protection workers have three times the national average case workload. Some have had up to 55 cases at one time.
The report, written by the Child Welfare League of Canada outlined Yellowknife and the Deh Cho region as major trouble spots and urged immediate action.
"Both Yellowknife and the Deh Cho region show extraordinarily high workloads compared to the (Children's Welfare League of America) standard," said the report. "...Yellowknife and Deh Cho ... should receive immediate attention."
Wyness said a growing Yellowknife population has increased the workload.
"A great many children in need of protection will not get what they need if workers are burned out," said Wyness.
A child protection worker -- who wanted to remain anonymous -- said fear keeps most workers from publicly complaining but added that the situation has reached a point where they have no other choice.
"We work under a code of ethics but the situation we're in doesn't allow us to follow it the way it should," said the worker. "It's endangering the well-being of the children we help."
Right now workers are just "trying to keep the big dirt down" which means they just have time to do deal with the day-to-day calls but not the follow up work.
"Our goal is to eventually get the child back to the family," said the worker, "but now some are falling through the cracks."
The Union of Northern Workers is trying to set up a meeting with local MLAs to figure a way out of the crisis.
Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee says the situation is serious.
"There's been enough time (to fix the situation)," said Lee. "It requires urgent attention."
Health and Social Services Minister Jane Gronewegen says she's recommended that the Health and Social Services board hire staff until a permanent solution can be found.
"We have suggested that a temporary solution would be to hire some staff," said Groenewegen. "We'll leave it up to (the board) to talk to the workers while they try a more in depth assessment."
Fifteen years ago Yellowknife had two child protection workers, now there are eight.
