Children’s Advocate’s Annual Reports Focus on Challenges and Progress
Cite Importance of Remaining Independent from CFS System
WINNIPEG – (November 29, 2004) Manitoba’s Children’s Advocate Janet Mirwaldt wants her office to have more resources and to be able to report to the public on important issues as they arise. “The Children’s Advocate should not have to wait for an annual report to publicly address immediate issues that affect children and their families”, according to Mirwaldt.
She makes the suggestions in releasing the Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA) Annual Reports for 2002-03 and 2003-04. The reports outline complex and lengthy reviews undertaken by the Office during the two fiscal years. Reviews Mirwaldt says that have taxed the office’s ability to meet demands placed upon it.
The first review concerns allegations that Child and Family Services staff in Pauingassi inappropriately used RCMP cells to detain children who were sniffing substances. As well, the OCA conducted a major review at the request of the Minister of Family Services and Housing into operations of the Winnipeg Child and Family Services shelter system.
The annual reports provide highlights of both investigations.
Mirwaldt said it was “right and appropriate” that the Office of the Children’s Advocate should conduct the reviews, but she said it demonstrated the need for more resources.
“Additional resources are needed to meet the demands associated with in-depth reviews and reports, while maintaining a high quality of service in our case work,” she writes. “As our efforts are always child and youth focused, systemic projects stop when any young person needs our immediate help on individual cases.”
She says demands for services have risen by 53 per cent over the last two years, challenging the eight-member staff to meet the needs of children and youth. She reports having made operational changes to try to streamline the process.
Mirwaldt says that because the OCA has no ability to enforce recommendations or require a response, agencies and departments can disregard the recommendations.
“Having cited the challenges of monitoring follow-up we have also noticed an improving relationship with many of those involved in providing child and family services in resolving complaints and issues,” said Mirwaldt. “In many cases there is a freer flow of information with agencies and with the Department of Family Services and Housing.
The Children’s Advocate reported that her office’s independent status and structure
had remained unchanged as a result of the restructuring of the provincial child
and family services system that was required, in part, to create four new child
and family services authorities in November, 2003. The Children’s Advocate has
welcomed the opportunity to work cooperatively with the new authorities to further
the best interests of children, youth and families involved in the system.
As the Children’s Advocate exists to represent the rights, interests and viewpoints
of children receiving or entitled to receive child and family services in Manitoba,
it is imperative that the Children’s Advocate and the Advocate’s staff maintain
their independent status and be separate and apart from the service providers
that people are making complaints about. The Children’s Advocate currently reports
directly to the Legislative Assembly and operates independently from the child
and family services system.
Janet Mirwaldt’s second and final term as Children’s Advocate will be completed on March 28, 2005.
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Media contact: Janet Mirwaldt, 945-1364
or 1-800-263-7146