Provincial Government Provides Technology Options to Families Impacted by the Temporary Suspension of Family Visitation

  • Children, Seniors and Social Development

April 9, 2020

The Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, provided details today on efforts to increase access to technology for families who, before COVID-19, were having in person visits with their children who are in care.

As the global pandemic continues to evolve, the Provincial Government recognizes that this is an unprecedented time and focus remains on ensuring the health and safety of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. At the same time, in the case of family visitation for children and youth in care, maintaining and supporting relationships between children and their families is important in order to ensure their connections, sense of belonging and attachment.

Given the direction from the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, which limits the ability for in person contact, connecting through technology is one of the next best alternatives.

The Provincial Government appreciates that this is especially difficult for children in care and their families who were used to having in person visits before COVID-19 and understands that some families are experiencing barriers to having video-based visits with their children. To reduce these barriers, the department has been exploring solutions.

In consultation with the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Bell Canada, starting next week the department will begin supplying these impacted families that lack access to technology with additional resources to support video-based visits, where possible, with their children throughout the COVID-19 situation. This technology will also make phone calls, texts, and/or emails possible.

The temporary suspension of in-person family visitation is reviewed on an on-going basis, with exceptional circumstances being considered by the department’s social workers.

These actions are consistent with the direction of the Federal Government, other provinces and territories, and the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Newfoundland and Labrador to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the province, across the country and around the world.

For the most up-to-date information related to COVID-19, please visit www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19. For general inquiries related to available government services, please email covid19info@gov.nl.ca.

Quote
“Ensuring the safety and well-being of children and youth is at the heart of what we do each and every day. While the decision to temporarily suspend in person family visitation was not made lightly, it was done in the best interests of the children, youth and their families. To assist with supporting family connections, we are pleased to provide families whose in person visits are no longer safe with additional options to avail of video-based visits during the COVID-19 public health emergency.”
Honourable Lisa Dempster
Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development

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Media contact
Gina MacArthur
Children, Seniors and Social Development
709-729-3768, 730-2977
ginamacarthur@gov.nl.ca

2020 04 09 4:56 pm