FSIN Applauds Increase In Child Welfare Funding

FSIN Applauds Increase In Child Welfare Funding

Friday, August 31, 2007 at 15:21

 

 

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is welcoming the provincial government’s announcement today of more money for foster care.

 

The province says the $18 million in new money will, among other things, provide for the hiring of 60 more caseworkers and a 15 per cent increase in the monthly rate foster families receive.

 

FSIN Vice-Chief Guy Lonechild notes there is a disproportionately high number of First Nations and Metis foster children in this province.

 

Lonechild hopes the new money will help alleviate the difference between foster care on- and off-reserve, which he says is like night and day.

 

He says it’s not acceptable that First Nations children living on reserve have been treated like second-class citizens.

 

Lonechild also says this new money is a signal for First Nations and Metis communities to meet and come up with their own plan to serve foster children.

 

He says there is a need for more healthy families and parents in the Aboriginal community, adding he doesn’t want to see a repeat of the situation that saw a newborn abandoned in the Prince Albert Wal-Mart store earlier this year.

 

Lonechild says the end goal should be keeping families together whenever possible.