In the House of Assembly this week, the Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, in collaboration with the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation and Labrador Affairs, tabled the Report on Child Welfare Services to Indigenous Children, Youth and Families 2019-20.

This report is in response to Recommendation 33 of the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate’s report A Long Wait for Change: Independent Review of Child Welfare Services to Inuit Children in Newfoundland and Labrador (2019).

As the first comprehensive public reporting of information about child welfare services to Indigenous children, youth and families, it sets the baseline from which the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development and Indigenous Governments and Organizations will continue working together to reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous children and youth in care.

Among other findings, the report details an overrepresentation of Indigenous children and youth in care, at 36 per cent, when the Indigenous population is 12 per cent. It also notes that while 70 per cent of Indigenous children and youth entering care were placed within their communities or culture, 30 per cent were not. Collectively, actions are being taken to improve these findings. Early positive results show a 42 per cent reduction in the number of Indigenous children and youth coming into care since 2018.

Minister Abbott also sent letters to all the Indigenous Governments and Organizations providing a copy of the report and inviting them to join the department on an Indigenous Children and Youth Data Working Group focused on reducing the number of Indigenous children and youth in care and better outcomes for Indigenous peoples involved in child welfare.

Quotes
“I would like to thank the Nunatsiavut Government for their collaboration on the Report on Child Welfare Services to Indigenous Children, Youth and Families 2019-20 and congratulate them on their recent announcement to develop a plan to assume jurisdiction over child welfare services. We recognize that upstream prevention and early intervention services prevent children coming into care, and the efforts of all Indigenous Governments and Organizations in the province, as well as my department remain focused in this area.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development

“The Provincial Government is committed to advancing a shared vision with Indigenous Governments and Organizations to improve outcomes, as well as look at social and system issues that impact the overrepresentation of Indigenous children, youth and families in care.”
Honourable Lisa Dempster
Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation
Minister of Labrador Affairs

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Learn more

Report on Child Welfare Services to Indigenous Children, Youth and Families 2019-20

A Long Wait for Change: Independent Review of Child Welfare Services to Inuit Children in Newfoundland and Labrador

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

Allan Bock
Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation
709-896-4449, 899-6446
allanbock@gov.nl.ca