Social services: Changes already being made to foster care system

“The hub in Yorkton will play a critical role in future situations where we bring corrections and education and social services to the same table,” Harpauer said. “They identify problematic individuals that are in crisis and then get supports in place.”

Harpauer added that the ministry is doing more work with health and education to identify kids in crisis.

Other recommendations were to improve incentives for rural foster parents and re-evaluate training protocols for foster parents. Harpauer says members of the jury were likely not aware that the province’s foster parent training program is already considered to be very strong and even serves as a model for other systems. She adds that the provincial government has already increased financial funding incentives.

The jury also called for funding a facility for children with complex needs who are under the age of 12. Harpauer said she can’t see the province developing a stand-alone centre for youth under 12, noting that current facilities like the Ranch Ehrlo Society and Eagles’ Nest already have the expertise to deal with troubled young people.

The minister has also written to the federal government to support the request for more funding for First Nations agencies like the Yorkton Tribal Council to improve their services for children in care. The Yorkton Tribal Council Child and Family Services was providing service to the 10-year-old boy who police say beat Bonneau to death with a stick and a rock.

The Ministry will review the coroner’s inquest findings in more detail and respond officially in two weeks.

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by Adriana Christianson

Social services: Changes already being made to foster care system

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