Province expands child, youth programs funding supports

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This article was published 29/06/2023 (833 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The province has announced $34.7 million for services and programming for children and youth, including an ongoing $13.9-million increase to Manitoba CFS agencies’ yearly funding.

“This funding will help agencies direct resources towards the needs and the best interests of children, youth and families in their communities,” Families Minister Rochelle Squires said Thursday at Resource Assistance for Youth on Sherbrook Street, flanked by officials from RaY and family service centre Blue Thunderbird.

The Manitoba Child and Family Services system is made up of four provincially funded authorities — General, Métis, First Nations of Northern Manitoba, and Southern First Nations Network of Care — that autonomously oversee and fund various respective agencies to provide services in different parts of the province.

The $13.9 million will boost annual funding to the authorities to $434.9 million, from $421 million. The current “single envelope” funding model was implemented in 2019.

Squires said the child welfare system is in a “much-needed” transitional period.

“This was a system that was rooted in colonialism, that was not serving children and families and communities well. So as we’re moving towards Indigenous governing bodies drawing jurisdiction and assuming authority and repatriating their children to their communities — that has put the whole system in flux,” the minister said.

Changes to the CFS system will better serve communities and prevent unnecessary family separations, but the transition has created pressures and a need for more funding, she added.

About 90 per cent of children in care in Manitoba are Indigenous.

The government will also give the authorities a one-time, $11-million top-up meant to increase wages, boost recruitment and retain employees, and spend $7.3 million on support programming for youth aging out of care.

Such supports include financial assistance, housing support, life-skills training, employment services, case management and advocacy, Squires said.

RaY, a non-profit that provides programs and services to disaffected young people, is getting $456,000 to support its level-up program, which teaches independent living and employment skills via classroom learning, certifications and work placements.

RaY education and training director Caryn Birch said the program (which began about five years ago) has helped hundreds of people.

In 2021, the organization opened a second classroom focused on youth aging out of care who asked for more life-skills training, such as on health and budgeting.

“We are incredibly grateful for the continued support from the province of Manitoba to keep this classroom running,” Birch said. “This support has ensured that RaY is able to continue to support youth.”

Thursday’s announcement also included $2.48 million in funding (some annual and some one-time) to community initiatives.

“The province is really moving away from being the deliverer of service and more into a position where we’re purchasing services from those who are on the front line,” Squires said. “We believe that community can address some challenges that government cannot do alone.”

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca