This is page numbers 4589 – 4648 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was services.

Topics

Committee Motion 64-17(5): Training For Child Protection Workers, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Minister Abernethy.

Committee Motion 64-17(5): Training For Child Protection Workers, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. The statutory training is continually adjusted based on feedback from the different participants, but I hear the Member and I support the recommendation 21. The new action plan will include an evaluation of the Statutory Training Program and it will be updated accordingly.

Committee Motion 64-17(5): Training For Child Protection Workers, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. To the motion.

Committee Motion 64-17(5): Training For Child Protection Workers, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 64-17(5): Training For Child Protection Workers, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Question is being called. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Moses.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that the Department of Health and Social Services implement an ongoing formal process whereby child protection workers have an opportunity to recommend improvements for the child and family services system. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Moses.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. In consultations with the department, we did hear that there were informal consultations with the child protection workers. We want to make sure that there’s something formally in place where instead of child protection workers being afraid to say how they really feel, that as front-line workers, as case workers seeing what’s happening in the homes, on the streets, in the communities, that they provide the recommendations that will really have a strong impact and effect on this act as we move forward and that it should come from the bottom up rather than top down and that we have everybody give quality input into making sure that children receive the services that they need and they get the resources and the type of training that they receive. Thank you, Madam.

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Moses. To the motion. Minister Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. Getting feedback and input from the front-line providers is critical, as they’re the ones dealing with the residents of the Northwest Territories on a daily basis. There are two formal processes already in place. Suggestions for improvements to the child and family services system can be brought to the attention of regional directors of social programs, who meet on a regular basis to discuss program matters, and also suggestions for improvements to the child and family services system can be brought to the attention of the chief executive officers, who can place these on the agenda items for the Joint Senior Management Committee, which is meeting on a regular basis with child and family services as a standing agenda item.

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Abernethy. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Question is being called. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Moses.

Committee Motion 66-17(5): Funding Methodology For Regional Authorities, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

June 2nd, 2014

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that the Department of Health and Social Services revise the funding methodology for the regional authorities upon completing the assessment of required resources. Thank you.

Committee Motion 66-17(5): Funding Methodology For Regional Authorities, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Moses. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Moses.

Committee Motion 66-17(5): Funding Methodology For Regional Authorities, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. It was a recommendation that I think came out of the 2000 report, as well, and something that went right back, I think it even mentioned 1977. It talked about requiring financial and human resources for this area with child and family services and nothing has been developed. There has been no caseload standards being developed and we’ve heard in some cases where a certain child protection worker might have had up to 100 cases and some of them might only have a few. So we want to make sure it’s something standardized, caseload management, and that each health authority has the proper financial and human resources to effectively offer quality child and family services to the clients and the families. So this is a recommendation that came out of that. Thank you.

Committee Motion 66-17(5): Funding Methodology For Regional Authorities, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Moses. To the motion. Minister Abernethy.

Committee Motion 66-17(5): Funding Methodology For Regional Authorities, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. We’ve already indicated, and I’d like to indicate again, that we agree with recommendation 23.

Committee Motion 66-17(5): Funding Methodology For Regional Authorities, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Abernethy. To the motion.

Committee Motion 66-17(5): Funding Methodology For Regional Authorities, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 66-17(5): Funding Methodology For Regional Authorities, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Question is being called. Motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Moses.

Committee Motion 67-17(5): Caseload Standards For Child Protection Workers, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that the Department of Health and Social Services establish territory-wide caseload standards for child protection workers; and further, that the department ensure that the caseloads are fairly balanced across the regional authorities; and furthermore,

that the due consideration be given to regional variation of duties, demands and available resources. Thank you.

Committee Motion 67-17(5): Caseload Standards For Child Protection Workers, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Moses. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Moses.

Committee Motion 67-17(5): Caseload Standards For Child Protection Workers, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you. Yes, just briefly, I think the motion states specifically what we need here and I also think that there does need to be inventory assessment of caseloads across the Northwest Territories in the regions and maybe identify which regions have the highest caseloads and start putting some of our resources, financial, human, towards those regional authorities that we can assist and provide quality care for our children and our families. Thank you.

Committee Motion 67-17(5): Caseload Standards For Child Protection Workers, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Moses. To the motion. Minister Abernethy.