By paNOW Staff

Foster homes in P.A. down since 2010

May 25, 2015 | 6:50 AM

An investigative report by Saskatchewan’s Children and Youth Advocate on “Mark” has put a spotlight on the ministry of social services.

The report, No Time for Mark: The Gap Between Policy and Practice, reviewed how the ministry of social services failed to keep a 22-month-old boy’s interest foremost when he was put into an overcrowded foster home.

The report, based on a 2010 incident, outlined how the child was moved between family, a crisis nursery and foster homes throughout his life.  It focused on the services he and his family received from the ministry and other agencies … and by not acting as a “prudent parent”, it violated the child’s right to a safe and secure environment.

In addition, it said too many foster children were in the home at one time.

“I want to stress that systemic issues remain pertaining to a lack of quality case management, pertaining to a lack of quality supervision in case work, pertaining to the lack of policy compliance generally,” said Saskatchewan Youth and Child Advocate Bob Pringle last week.

WORLD SOFTBALL

Group stages officially set for Men's Softball World Cup in P.A.

5h ago

Safety first

Safety concerns and tips surrounding discarded needles in P.A.

23h ago

Liquor stores must change hours

Prince Albert limits liquor store hours

Apr 23, 2024

Tobie Eberhardt, acting executive director of child and family programs, said changes have been made in recent years.

 “Since 2007 we’ve added 93 additional frontline staff across the province,” she said on Friday to paNOW.

Currently in Prince Albert, she said, there are 68 approved and operational foster homes.  In 2010 there were 77 foster homes in the city.

Eberhardt said to ensure the safety of foster children there are nine dedicated staff in their resource area “so these are the staff that do things such as the initial approval of home study, they provide the ongoing support foster parents, the training and then the ongoing oversight of the home.  Additionally, we would have number of other staff that would be interacting with foster parents on a regular basis.”

Those other staff would be child care workers who visit foster children in the home and talk with the foster parents.

“When a foster parent is being approved, part of the assessment is determining what would be the ideal number of foster children in their home based on their skills, needs and requests,” she said.

However, she couldn’t say how many foster children are in the city right now. 

As for if they have enough resources, Eberhardt said at this time she believes so.

 “On an ongoing basis we’re always assessing to see each person’s case load and the cases that they are working with.  Right now we feel the supports to our foster parents are working,” she said.

She said the ministry acknowledges the work of current foster families, but recognized more foster homes are needed.

If anyone is interested in learning more about being a foster parent you can call the Saskatchewan Foster Family Association at 1-800-667-7002.

Eberhardt said there are some special qualities she feels are needed to be a good foster parent.

“I think a dedication to a difference in a child life [is needed] and providing a safe and stable home for a child.”

– With files from Kelly Malone

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow