Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There's two items here that the Member is referring to. One is just a number of children in care increasing, which is the $240,000, and then there's $227,000 for the costs associated with specific children placed in southern placements. The southern placements of 227, there's actually a specific to children that were placed this year and the funding increase associated with that. Overall, $240,000 for children in care pertains to an increasing trend in the number of the children in care and the costs of dealing with that. Based on the information that the departments have provided us about the growth rate, the growth rate in the last number of years has been significant. In 2002-03 there was a total of 911 children receiving services. In 2003-04 it was 935. In 2004-05 it was 1,009. So what we're seeing is a trend increase in the number of children in care and that's leading to these increased costs.
Mr. Voytilla on Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on March 1st, 2006. See this statement in context.
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 28th, 2006
Page 1482
Voytilla
See context to find out what was said next.