Today, Minister of Health and Social Services, Tracy-Anne McPhee, tabled the 2020-2022 Family and Children’s Services Annual Report, highlighting a positive shift in child welfare practices. This annual report is a requirement of the Child and Family Services Act, which aims to improve outcomes for children, youth and families who are involved with the child welfare system.
The report shows that more Yukon children and youth are now staying with their extended families instead of being placed with community caregivers or group homes. This change is the result of reforms to child welfare practices that aim to improve emotional and social well-being while preserving connections to family, culture and community.
This new approach and effort to keep families together and respect individual needs are seeing positive results. Between 2017 to 2022, extended family placements have increased by 137 per cent, while community care and group home placements have decreased.
The Government of Yukon recognizes that more work is needed to address the fact that the vast majority of children and youth in out-of-home care are Indigenous. Family and Children’s Services is working closely with Yukon First Nations to recruit community caregivers and provide financial assistance for culturally appropriate placements.
The report also highlights the implementation of an electronic case management system in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's second Call to Action, which requires all governments to publish comprehensive child welfare data. This allows the Yukon government to better track the delivery of child welfare services, determine compliance with legislative and policy requirements, monitor outcomes for children and their families, and share data with Yukon First Nations governments.
Our government’s priority is to keep families together and to create safety within families and communities. Thank you to the dedicated staff who support this by devoting themselves to the children, youth and families they work with. Their hard work and commitment are enabling this positive change we see in child welfare practices. We must also thank all caregivers for opening their hearts and their homes to allow children and youth to remain in their home communities and stay connected with their culture and upbringing.
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Since 2017, there has been a 40 per cent decrease in the number of children and youth in the care of the Director, and a 24 per cent decrease in the number of children and youth placed with community caregivers.
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In 2022, 61 per cent of children and youth in out-of-home care were under Extended Family Care Agreements.
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Family and Children’s Services helped 68 youths learn the skills required to transition to independent living. This is a 196 per cent increase compared to the 2017 report.
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Since 2017, the number of youth and young adults using Transitional Support Services agreements has increased by 196 per cent, going from 23 to 68. This means that more youth are connected to services and financial support that will help them work towards self-reliance.
- The Department of Health and Social Services delivers child welfare services through the Family and Children’s Services branch, which acts under the authority of the Child and Family Services Act (CFSA).
- In 2018, the Minister of Health and Social Services appointed a six-member Advisory Committee to undertake a broad review of the CFSA and make recommendations to improve the Yukon’s child welfare system. The Advisory Committee travelled to all Yukon communities and engaged with many Yukoners to gather their perspectives on the CFSA. The Advisory Committee’s report, Embracing the Children of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, resulted in the subsequent creation of the CFSA Steering Committee in July 2020.
- Through significant discussions and meetings with Yukon First Nations, which were co-chaired by the Department of Health and Social Services and the Council of Yukon First Nations, new legislative changes intended to improve the CFSA have been drafted, voted on, and signed into law during the spring session of 2022. The updated Act came into force on November 30, 2022.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Uyanga Wren
Communications, Health and Social Services
867-332-8543
uyanga.wren@yukon.ca