Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In April 2008 a foster care review report was released. 

In November 2009 a kinship review report was released. Their recommendations have been widely ignored. A review of the child intervention system was initiated last summer. We’re still waiting for the report, but funding to intervention services was just cut by $27 million. This government initiates review after review of broken systems but then undermines its findings. To the minister: how many foster and kinship homes in this province have more than their approved number of children?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mrs. Fritz: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m not able to give you an exact number at this time. I can get that number and give it to the member. I can tell you this. The foster care review report, the eight recommendations that were put in place – it’s very clear about the screening process, about the home orientation, about the training for foster parents. I can tell you as well that there are provisions there for level 1 or level 2 support workers to have more children in their home when it’s been identified to be reasonable.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Mr. Chase: Thank you. I’ll look forward to the follow-up information. Right now it’s a first-bed, first-served circumstance for foster children as opposed to placing them carefully. When will this haphazard approach to placing children in foster and kinship homes based solely on beds available end?

Mrs. Fritz: Well, I think that you should apologize for that preamble, for what you’re saying about the way that children are placed in this province. I can tell you that the foster care system works very, very well with the people in the field and that they take their responsibilities very seriously. That foster care review report with those eight recommendations: you should read that, hon. member, and you would know the strong screening process that’s in place for our foster parents. You’d also know about the good work that’s being done in the field by our foster care workers.

Mr. Chase: There is no doubt that there are wonderful foster care parents out there. Unfortunately, not enough.

Was the decision to cut $27 million from children intervention services made based on preliminary findings of the children’s intervention system review? What’s the justification?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mrs. Fritz: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I’ve indicated to you before, it’s a $1.1 billion budget in this ministry. There is a 3 per cent reduction. Yes, there has been a reduction in the child intervention area of the budget. I will be monitoring that very closely. That reduction was made based on what the staff indicated, that the systems that have been put in place that have changed the way the service delivery is occurring for more placements of children actually create efficiencies. As I said, I will monitor that very closely. I’ll ensure that the supports and resources are available, and if they aren’t, I’ll take the appropriate measures to seek more funding if needed.

Alberta Hansard, March 9, 2010

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