Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During our visit we consulted extensively with front line workers. One of the biggest needs expressed by the social service workers with whom we met with was their need for more training and support as they carry out their duties. Because they have too many demands, they are only able to deal with the immediate crises that frequently happen among their clients. They wanted more supervision of their work and to be able to focus on a particular area of service delivery. They did not want to continue to try to be all things to all people. When workers get

stressed out trying to fulfil the expectations of their jobs, they want a counselling program to turn to for support for themselves.

Social service workers told us of the "no win" situation that they encounter with being on-call. Workers who respond to emergencies after hours get paid overtime. This money comes out of their office budget for casual wages. The more they respond to such emergencies, the less money is available to pay casual staff to cover for people on holidays or on other leave. Without such vacation coverage, more crises erupt on that unattended caseload, leading to more after-hours emergencies that lead to more overtime, et cetera.

Workers feel that they have insufficient resources to be effective in their jobs. We heard about workers having to carry a child they were apprehending down the street with a parent following because they had no access to a vehicle. The lack of money to pay for specialized counselling for troubled clients was noted. Workers talked about starting the year in a deficit position due to unfunded positions. The salary funds for these unfunded positions must be recovered from other budget areas as the year progresses to ensure that the budget balances at year end.

We heard about the "loss of intent" that seems to happen between the formulation of a policy and its implementation. Between lack of resources and the time it takes to bring about such changes, what they end up with is not always very close to what the original intention was.

Concern was expressed that initiatives suggested regionally get tied up too long at department headquarters. The annual contracting process was seen as very time consuming and slow. Groups who receive funding echoed these concerns and spoke about having to arrange credit to cover payroll or other expenses when departmental funding was delayed.

Communities served by a lay dispenser called for a back up person to fill in when the dispenser is out of the community. More training is need for the lay dispenser in areas like suicide intervention and follow-up.

Healing

Mr. Speaker, we heard a great deal about the healing process. Many northerners experience difficulties coping with the demands of their everyday lives. This dysfunction may have its roots in alcoholism or family violence, sexual, physical or emotional abuse that occurred in a family or in a residential school. If we are to help people overcome these difficulties we need to give them the opportunity to heal. To be effective, healing has to not only deal with the symptoms of dysfunction but also the underlying causes.

I quote Betty Hardisty, "I look at it like peeling an onion, once you deal with the alcoholism...there are all kinds of abuse underneath."

Some speakers shared their journeys of healing from the physical, sexual and cultural abuse they experienced in residential schools.

I quote Percy Hardisty, "...what about the people who have been abused in the residences? I believe that once these abuses have been dealt with, people will not cover it up with alcohol..."

There was widespread support for more resources for healing initiatives such as counselling and workshops, healing circles and providing people access to resource materials.

For most, healing is the necessary first step for individuals, families and communities, before meaningful attempts to take more control at the community level can be successful. As we recommended in our last report, counselling and support are needed at the community level. With training and professional and personal support, caring people such as elders can play an important role in helping people heal.

Recommendations

Mr. Speaker, we have three recommendations coming out of our regional travel. The first has to do with health service delivery.

Health Service Delivery

It is clearly important to the people of this region that they have more direct influence on health service delivery. We heard that there is a definite lack of trust in the system and widespread concern that important decisions are being made without public involvement.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, we recommend that a regional board of health be established in the Deh Cho region.

Our second recommendation is to do with clinical fetal alcohol syndrome.

Clinical Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Study

Many people were concerned over the numbers of children displaying the symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome or effects. The recently completed Fort Simpson "community health profile" estimates that as many as 25 per cent of the children in the region are so affected. Because of the wide ranging implications this has on many government services, the committee feels it is important to verify this estimate clinically. The results of the study could also help to ensure the accuracy of FAS/FAE statistics in future health profiles.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, we recommend that the Department of Health undertake a clinical study to determine the number of children affected by fetal alcohol effects and fetal alcohol syndrome in the Deh Cho region.

Our third recommendation deals with community empowerment.

Community Empowerment

A major concern of residents who spoke to us was the urgent need for assistance in developing the abilities of local people to control and deliver services. Community people want to help to develop local leadership skills. They want training for community workers who could work with other residents in clarifying local needs, determining priorities and developing plans to address these needs. Trainers could work on a rotating basis with three or four communities, spending a month in each community initially and then returning once a month for about a year or more to train and support local people. These local people would, in turn, be working to train and support others.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, we recommend that the government fund a pilot project to offer community leadership development assistance.

Conclusion

Mr. Speaker, that concludes the fourth interim report of the Special Committee on Health and Social Services.

Motion To Move Committee Report 12-12(3) To Committee Of The Whole

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik, that the fourth interim report of the Special Committee on Health and Social Services be received by the Legislative Assembly and moved into committee of the whole for consideration.

---Applause