The Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-04-03, Page 9•
Decreased spending in
child welfare means
difficult future for CAS
•
I
'New provincial legislation and
OntAteAspextding in the social service
,.:seetngwm Cause very difficult times for
child ifreifare in the 1980's, says John Penn,
directiai of Family and Children's Services
Lamm County.
BillMA the Child and Family Services
Act voitch WI.11 bvimplemented by July
1985, ipliieas increasing demands of ac-
akuitattlity on social workersand will
create road blocks to protect children and
preserve families, he told close to 50 peo-
ple atlhe annual meeting of Family and
Children's Services on Wednesday.
"There'Sno doubt we should be accoun-
table because we have a lot of power in
some areas, but the checks and balances
(in Bill 77) are so time consuming it will be
difficult for us to do our first job of serving
Huron's families," he says.
Tinder the new act, everyone's rights
will be represented regardless of cost. A
child over age 12 who objects to a place-
ment May demand an advisory committee
meeting to review his case and the com-
mittee reports its finding to the Ministry.
The child must have legal representation
during the process and if he doesn't like
the decision, he may appeal by a
Children's Services Review Board.
The act will result in clogging the courts
and plating great financial costs on the
Society. Or, it will deter social workers
from going to court at all.
"It will mean parents'voluntarily sign
their children over to the Society or we
may have to leave a child in a potentially
risky situation," says Mr. Penn.
"If the purpose of the act is to provide
protection to children from adults who
threaten them this act will fail."
Other difficulties come from recent cut-
backs in government funding to child
welfare. Though the,Society is still waiting,
for the Ontario government to announce its
auucatitui LW lump, Lt. 10 anucleating an in-
crease around three to four per cent.
"The politically strongest citizen in our
natio—our prime minister—is preaching
restraint and cutting some of our pro-
grams but has increased the spending of
his office by 54 per cent in his first year's
budget.
"The weaker members of our society
must struggle by with increases less than
inflation."
Though Ontario once led the ,country in
social program expenditures, it has now
fallen behind the so-called have not pro-
vinces, says Mr. Penn.
"I don't believe they don't have the fun-
ding for us. Millions and billions are given
to corporations in the way of grants," he
says.
The $2.3 billion given to Canadair to
finance their operation for one year could
finance child welfare in Ontario for over 11
years at its present level. The $2.3 billion is
more than is spent on child welfare • in
Canada in a yetir.
"Both the federal and provincial govern-
ments give children's services a very low
priority compared to the need to provide
private transportation to MPs and their
families, purchase new uniforms', for our
military or purchase over -priced oil com-
panies such as Suncor or Petrocanada."
The 10,000 people who are members of
Children's Aid Societies along with the
social workers, foster parents, adoptive
parents, volunteers and staff members
should get together to present a unified
front to the provincial government, he
says.
"We have not realized our political
power. Perhaps when this energy is
unified and focused to speak to our politi-
cians about the needs of families and
children in ways that they can understand,
then our funding may receive the priority
it deserves."
Family and Children's
Services is good agency
on its way to great, review
The staff of .Family and Children's Ser-
vices in Huron County can be proud of the
quality of their service and their commit-
ment to the community's families. and
children after the findings of an Opera-
tional Review in November 1983.
"Many agencies have been traumatized
by these reports but this one for us has
been supportive," said executive director
John Penn at the agency's annual meeting
on Wednesday.
The review, which took place between.
June and August of 1983, concludes that the
agency is well administered and reflects
the values of kinship, family and com- •
munity which so characterizes life in the
surrounding community.
It holds up the agency as a model for the
way it has built up a network of volunteers
through its foster home, volunteer and
Christmas Bureau programs.
Over the last several years, the agency
changed its philosophy from placement as
its main thrust to preservation of the in-
tegrity of the natural family unit being
paramount.
'Placement is now used as an extreme
and final resort treatment...The Society
has worked to extend its positive image in
the community as a helping agency as op-
posed to the negative stereotyped reputa-
tion of a 'child snatc,h,ing' service," says
the review.
The review praises the agency's policy
Which discourages case transfers between
workers so it can provide continuous and
consistent service support and bring about
positive .change from a strong
worker/client relationship.
It also commends the initiative and in-
genuity of the Society which has developed
support services including the Christmas'
Bureau and the summer camp program.
"The agency's • ability to recruit,
together with the county population's will-
ingness and zest in providing so' many
foster homes,-. makes. it possible for 82 of
the 84 children in care at present to be
placed in foster homes in the community.
This is an outstanding achievement of
Huron County and of the agency," says the
review.
One recommendation is the agency
move from one "which is basically sound
and :good to one which is great."
The new board of directors for 1985 in-
cludes Mildred Desjardine, of Grand
Bend; Audrey Royal, of Goderich; Peggy
Menzies, of Clinton; Jim Barnes, of
Brussels; Veronica Snider, of Zurich;
George Brophy, of West Wawanosh; and
Suzy Spines, of Colborne Township.
Municipal representatives include
Huron County Warden Paul Steckle; Lossy
Fuller, of Exeter; Isidore LaPorte, of
Zurich; and Tony Bedard.
Dave Gower elected
chairman of Maitland
Conservation Foundation
_
The Maitland Conservation Foundation
( MCF ) held its 1984 Annual Meeting on
March 25, in Wroxeter. Established in 1975,
• 11. PI •18„, • F undation up-
- Ideal Supply Company Ltd., in Listow-el,
provided heating materials for the MVCA's
classroom facility at Wawanosh Valley.
Foundation members noted the visible com-
ports the activities of the Maitland Val ey
Conservation Authority (MVCA).
1984 proved to be a very active and pro-
ductive year for the Foundation. Through
the efforts of Charles Sauriol, Special Ad-
visor to the Nature Conservancy of Canada,
the Foundation received funds totalling
$16,550 from Suncor and the Richard Ivey
Foundation for final payment on the Lake
Wawanosh property first acquired by the
MVCA in 1978.
The Foundation members also reported
on sales of their publication "Windings, A
History of the Lower Maitland River". Over
91'.) ^124^7 'If "Windings" have been sold
since November 84.
David Gower sighted the popularity of the
Authority's Naftel's Creek property. Gower
recommended, "We must make people
aware that these areasare free for us to use'
right now, but only generous donations will
allow this to continue. People should be
allowed to give what they can afford, rather
than charging a set fee for these types of
areas. All donations are helpful and ap-
preciated, no matter what the amount.
Nature appreciation should not be limited to
those persons who can afford to pay a set
fee".
The largest single donation for 1984 was
received from the Brussels Stockyards. The
Stockyards has been very generous in
monetarily supporting the MVCA's con-
servation education program. The Brussels
Stockyards provided funds to relocate a
classroom portable, donated by the Huron
Perth Roman Catholic Separate School
Board.
fort lmprovement heating has made to the
classroom and also the resulting increase in
bookings for the program.
On the subject of Conservation Education,
Jack Graul noted, "We must not ignore the
elderly citizens in our watershed. Certainly
children are our future, but seniors deserve
equal educational opportunities. As a Founr
dation, we must strive to,make the MVCA's
programs and properties accessible to
them".
1985 fund-raising endeavours will include:
conservation education; Naftel's Creek,
Wawanosh Lake and Saratoga Swamp pro-
perty acquisitions and development and
Gorrie Mill 1 estoriation. •
Dr. Thomas Sanderson, Foundation
Chairman for two years stepped down from
the position. Dr. Sanderson's progressive
and goal -oriented attitude caused fellow
members to accept his resignation with
regret.
This year's Board of Directors are David
Gower, chairman, Ian Deslauriers, vice-
chairman, Jack Graul, Bruce McCall and
Vince Judge.
The Maitland Conservation Foundation is
a non-profit organization directing its ef-
forts towards raising money or donations of
land from local individuals and businesses
interested in furthering conservation work
in the Maitland River Watershed. All dona-
tions and bequests can be deducted as
charitable gifts under income tax regula-
tions.
To find out how you can become a suppor-
ting member of. the Maitland Conservation
Foundation, inquire at MVCA, Box 127,
Wroxeter orekall 335-3557.
•
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