The Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-12-08, Page 14io
Child abuse program must be dropped says directo
PAGE 14—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1977
A program operated by the Huron County
Family and Children Services (formerly the
Children's Aid Society) aimed at preventing
child abuse in the county has been cancelled due
to a lack of financial support from the Ontario
ministry of community and social services. John
Penn, director of family services, said Friday
that budget restrictions placed on the Huron
County agency forced him to cancel the child
abuse program.
Penn said that the lack of financial support
was not the sole reason for cancelling the
program. He said lack of funds coupled with a
high workload for Huron County agency workers
gave him no alternative but cancellation. He said
that the staff to case ratio in Huron was one of
the highest in south-western Ontario and that
by failing to permit the Huron agency to add one
staff member and rechice the ot the
workeri
s the ministry had forced him to cancel a
program.
Penn said the ministry does not consider the
child abuse prevention program as part of the
agency workload. He said the ministry
calculated the Huron agency's workload and
budget on its 1975 files and did not permit ex-
pansion of p-rograms since that time to be
considered in the 1978 budget.
WORKLOAD TOO HIGH ministry
Penn' said he could abide by Y
judgment if the workload ratio in Huron was not
so high. He said the ratio here is 36.3 cases to one
worker, the highest in south-western Ontario and
one of the highest in the province. He said neigh-
boring agencies have ratios in the low 20's and
one has a ration of one worker per 19 cases.
The agency director said the child abuse
program had to be the one eliminated because it
was not recognized as a budget item by the
ministry. He said had another program been
eliminated the Huron agency would.have faced a
budget cut which would have made it almost
impossible for staff members to function.
He said he is very proud of the effort his staff is
making despite the high else load., He pointed
out that the only way the workers can handle
their duties is to work overtime, either by pay or
time off.
Penn said that if the ministry allowed the
Huron workload ratio to be reduced and allowed
the agency to take on another staff member he
Ratepayers voice disapproval
.;
Several members of the
Goderich Ratepayers'
Association attended Monday
evening's council meeting
and during the citizens'
question and answer period,
presented to council mem-
bers two suggestions.
Those suggestions were:
that the ratepayers object to
the proposed lighting on The
Square and consider the
expenditure to be "un-
necessary"; and a request
following budget preparation,
to have committee heads
identify the two or three most
significant discretionary
items in their budgets, with
these items to be presented at
J • •
an open public meeting for
discussion and final
resolution.
Jim Searls who spoke on
behalf of the ratepayers, said
that of all the people he has
talked to, none have been in
favor of the lighting proposed
for The Square. He said he
couldn't comprehend where
the Business Improvement
Area committee members
felt they were getting the
support they reported to
council.
"Some businessmen feel
they have been led down the
garden path," said Searls
who agreed to produce names
if council wished
"Do you understand the
total project?" asked
Councillor Dave Gower.
It was explained to the
group present that the
businessmen through a
special BIA levy were paying
for the lighting on the outside
of The' Square and that while
council had approved in
principle the concept of the
lighting for Court House
Park, the matter was still to
be voted on in council.
Councillor Elsa Haydon
said The Square belongs to
everyone and should be
developed as a feature of the
Prettiest Town in Canada.
It was further suggested
that council understood the
need for improvements in the
liWing on some of the radial
streets and that some
priorities may have to be
recognized when it comes to
municipal funding for the
lighting project.
As to the suggestion of the
ratepayers involving budget
time, the citizens were
reminded that all budget
meetings are held in open
session and that the public is
cordially invited - and urged -
to attend so taxpayers can be
fully informed regarding the
reasons for expenditures in
Goderich.
felt the child could be main
tained. He estimated the move would cost the
ministry an additional $20,000.
The program was started a little over a year
ago and was aimed at public education, iden-
tification and reporting procedures involved in
cases of child abuse. He said it enabled com-
munity resources such as doctors, police,
teachers, hospitals and the general public, to
become aware of child abuse and to report actual
cases or potential problems to the agency for
assistance. Penn said the program
was
to
ry
successful and that the agency planneex-
pand it.
PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL—
The
UCCE$ U4—The program was started in March of 1978
at that time 17 child abuse cases wete.o4.
agency,files. By March 1977 26 caseswerep
files and a high of 32 had been recognl
August of ,1977. Penn attributes the Inc
the child abuse program pointing out thatb
the establishment of the program the
would have gone unreported.
The director did say that the cancellatit
the agency will reduce the effectiveness
program but that the groundwork done by
community child abuse committee will not
vain. He said that the education of the
iuncociit men
Tune
to
Page
AWORLD OF.,
WONDERFUL
CHRISTMAS
GIFTS FOR
CHILDRENJ
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For wide-eyed delight on
Christmas morn ... wrap these up!
Fashions as exciting and colorful as the season.
The gift anwers for youngsters on your holiday list. Here ...
Velvets, Velours, Outerwear
Gifts for baby, Needlepoint Kits, etc
Use Our Convenient lay -a -way plan 10% down will hold any item
There will baa Minor Moloy Bak* Sala Saturday afternoon. Doc. lath.
SHOPPE
and
Yarn Centre.
cwuu:ex
VISA
HIGHWAY 21, GODERICH 411.
Here to
make
study
Instant
Friendsliip
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The warm greeting of
your Welcome Wagon
hostess with "The Most
Famous Basket in the
World" will introduce
you to our community
and start you on the
way toward new and
lasting friendships.
If you are new in town.
call
9fTerconieVgoI,
Phone 524-6654 and
524.9676
timmiRMININNIMIRIJ
Don Wheeler of the Goderich Airport Committee (left)
welcomed Robb Knight, acting superintendent of airport
planning and programming, and Mark Hanley, planning
assistant, to Sky Harbor Airport on Thursday, December 1.
Both men are with the Transport Canada, Ontario Region.
They were in Goderich to meet with council members from
Goderich and Colborne Township as well as the airport
committee members and to get a preliminary view of the
-airport for an engineering study they are preparing for
proposed runway expansion. (staff photo)
VANASTRA
RESOURCE CENTRE
:CANADA WORKS
APPLICATIONS TO BE SUBMITTED BY 16th DEC.,
1977 FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS:
1. PROJECT MANAGER
Co-ordination and administration of Vanastra Resource
Centre.
2. SECRETARY RECEPTIONIST
Secretarial duties for Vanastra Resource Centre,
organization of community library.
3. COMMUNITY WORKER
Coordination of Community services & programmes.
4. RECREATION WORKER
Development of on going recreation programmes for
all ages In conlunction with existing services.
Successful applicants will be creative, enjoy
working with people, and be willing to
develop a vital community reource centre.
Positions scheduled to commence Jan 3.
1977.
Further information may be obtained by
contacting the Vanastra Resource Centre on
Thursdays between 9 a.m. and. -4 p.m. (482-
3783) or The Goderich Manpower Centre.
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