More child protection workers needed
Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Dec 13/00) - The temporary hiring of three social workers won't alleviate the backlog of child protection cases, says the Union of Northern Workers.
Two new child protection workers -- with a third employee arriving in Jan. -- joined the city's roster of eight workers this month. Their contracts are three months in duration. The short-term measure follows a grievance filed by the UNW last month suggesting a crisis is brewing. Based on the May 2000 report "It Takes a Community", the union wants 22 child protection workers especially for Deh Cho and Yellowknife.
"The two or three (workers) are better than none but it's a short term measure," said Barbara Wyness, UNW communications officer.
Child safety is not the only issue. Employee safety is a concern. Wyness declined to elaborate on specific cases.
However, UNW president Georgina Rolt-Kaiser recently said: "The support of the public and government is crucial to ensuring those people who protect children are themselves protected."
The Yellowknife Health and Social Services Board is continuing non-violent crisis intervention training for social work staff. Board chief executive officer Al Woods insisted the board is actively working toward improving the existing child protection program.
Wyness remains hopeful things will get better. She said more full time workers are critical.
"They need to implement the recommendations from 'It Takes a Community.'
"We hope they have some other ducks lined up."
Woods says they do.
"This is just until March. It will give us time to do an in-depth review of the situation."
