On February 23, 2000, the Member for Thebacha raised questions in the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories about the Child and Family Services Program review. I am pleased to provide the Member with further Information.
The first question concerned how child protection files were selected for the Child and Family Services Review. I have been advised that over 100 child protection files were reviewed. Reviewers selected files at each child protection worker office in three different ways. One was that they chose some on a random basis. In some smaller communities they read every file. They also consulted with local community social workers and selected files the local workers desired for case consultation.
The second question raised concerns regarding the consultation process in each community. I can assure the House the contractor developed consultation activities that were well organized and efficient.
In each community a variety of interviews were prearranged. Community councils, including band and municipal offices, as well as local school authorities, were contacted in advance so they could identify representatives to participate. The length of each visit was determined by the size of the community, the number of individuals or groups to be interviewed. The reviewers spent a total of 37.5 days interviewing people and groups. This has worked out to be an average of four days per community.
The consultation process is now winding down. Last week in Yellowknife and Rae-Edzo, reviewers held focus group sessions with children and parents receiving services through the Child and Family Services Act. A third session was held in Fort Simpson this past weekend. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.