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ACCOUNTABILITY
STATEMENT
This Business Plan for the three years
commencing April 1, 2004 was prepared under my direction in accordance
with the Government Accountability Act and the government’s accounting
policies. All of the government’s policy decisions as at February 27,
2004 with material economic or fiscal implications of which I am aware
have been considered in preparing the Business Plan.
The Ministry’s priorities outlined in the
Business Plan were developed in the context of the government’s business
and fiscal plans. I am committed to achieving the planned results laid
out in this Business Plan.
[original
signed]
Iris Evans, Minister
of Children's Services
March 5, 2004
the ministry
The Ministry Business
Plan for 2004-07 comprises the following entities:
- Child and
Family Services Authorities – help determine Ministry-wide
priorities and directions, deliver Ministry programs and services, and
meet the local priorities and needs of children, families, and communities.
- Youth Secretariat
– advises the Minister on key issues facing youth and ways to
address those issues.
- Children's
Advocate – represents the rights, interests and viewpoints
of children and youth receiving child welfare services.
- Social Care
Facilities Review Committee – a citizen panel with a legislated
mandate to monitor provincially funded social care facilities, and investigate
complaints to ensure the best possible care.
- Delegated
First Nations Agencies – delivery of provincial child welfare
programs and services to families of member First Nation bands, through
formal delegation agreements established with the Ministry.
- Department
of Children's Services – provides leadership to: (a) establish
policies that promote the well-being of children, youth and families,
(b) support the delivery of quality services focused on improving outcomes
for children, youth and families, (c) promote greater capacity for community
services that support children in reaching their potential, and (d)
design business strategies that help the Ministry achieve its vision.
The Plan also recognizes
the critical role of our partners in service delivery of provincial programs
and services.
At the local municipal
level the Ministry invests in Family and Community Support Services to
strengthen the capacity and self-reliance of communities to plan and deliver
services to meet the needs of children, youth and families. The Ministry's
entities also enter into a range of contracts and agreements with agencies
to provide services at the community level. Other Alberta Government Ministries,
as well as municipal/provincial/territorial/federal governments are strategic
partners.
A
message from the minister.
Our work in the Children's Services Ministry is focused on a vision
of strong children, families and communities.
All children deserve a loving, stable home in which to grow and thrive.
First and foremost, parents have the responsibility to provide this environment
for their children. When caregivers do not have the skills they need,
Children's Services links them to community resources that will enhance
their care giving abilities.
The 2004-07 Children' s Services Business Plan reflects the advice of
Albertans and our commitment to work with communities to help children
grow and succeed.
The plan contains goals in each of our three core business areas:
- Promoting the development and well-being of children, youth and families;
- Keeping children, youth and families safe and protected, and
- Promoting healthy communities for children, youth and families.
In addition to the ongoing core activities of the Ministry, to achieve
our goals in the next three years we have set strategic priorities in
the areas of family violence prevention including elder abuse, parenting
resources, resources for children with disabilities, redefining child
welfare and partnerships.
Our goal is to work with partners and communities so that children will
have the best start possible in order to lead happy, healthy and successful
lives. Only by working together through a comprehensive preventative approach
can we meet the needs of Alberta's children and families.
LINK
TO THE GOVERNMENT BUSINESS PLAN
Investments in children,
youth and families are the foundation to realizing Alberta's vision -
a vibrant and prosperous province where Albertans enjoy a superior quality
of life and are confident about the future for themselves and their children.
Children's Services is committed to achieving the Government of Alberta
Strategic Business Plan by supporting Alberta's children and youth in
reaching their potential. A primary focus is the achievement of results
for goals in the government's core business of People. Significant contributions
are also made to Prosperity, for example in supporting families through
child care resources while they work in their communities, and Preservation
priorities around safety of families. Children's Services strategic directions
supporting the government's business plan are: prevention
– a healthy start and supports for children to learn, grow and succeed;
preservation – a safe nurturing family environment
for children; protection – a safety net to protect
vulnerable children in need; partnerships – a community
to help families raise their children.
VISION
Strong children,
families and communities
An Alberta where children and youth are valued, nurtured and loved, and
develop to their potential, supported by enduring relationships, healthy
families, and safe communities. Alberta will be child, youth and family
friendly.
MISSION
Working together to
enhance the ability of families and communities to develop nurturing
and safe environments for children, youth and individuals.
CORE
BUSINESSES
Core Business 1: Promoting the development and well-being
of children, youth and families
Goal 1 - Children and youth will have a healthy start
in life and the supports they need to reach their potential
Core Business 2: Keeping children, youth and families
safe and protected
Goal 2 - Families will be safe, healthy, and able to promote
children's development
Goal 3 - Children in need will be protected and supported by permanent,
nurturing relationships
Core Business 3: Promoting healthy communities for
children, youth and families
Goal 4 - The well-being and self-reliance of Aboriginal
children, youth, families and communities will be promoted, supported
and comparable to that of other Albertans
Goal 5 - Communities will have the capacity to plan and deliver services
that promote the well-being of children, youth and families
SIGNIFICANT
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGEs
Alberta's children and youth, aged 0-19, account for 28% (840,000), of
Alberta's population. Alberta provides opportunity for every child and
youth to achieve their potential, but the demographic and social value
changes of society brings many challenges. As a result, new approaches
and responses are needed to support children and youth, to support their
parents to preserve the family and to support community capacity building.
Knowledge of such changes and challenges is key if programs and services
are to continue meeting the needs of children, youth and families of Alberta.
At times this requires the Ministry to be an advocate on behalf of children
and youth to address barriers to success and in some cases act as temporary
parent in times of crisis.
| Challenges |
Opportunities |
- Many
of Alberta’s children are at risk of poor developmental
outcomes. An ongoing challenge is finding ways to support and
affirm parental responsibility for the optimal development of
children.
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- Prevention:
Promote a healthy start and the supports for children and youth
to realize their potential.
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-
Many Alberta families suffer the emotional trauma of family breakdown;
this increases the need to plan for resiliency within families
and for children at risk.
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-
Preservation: Promote a safe, nurturing family environment for
children and youth.
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- Children
and youth in care have unique needs requiring individual supports.
Children and youth often are not heard and their rights not considered.
The challenge is finding ways to improve outcomes.
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-
Protection: Provide a safety net for vulnerable children and youth
in need.
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- Aboriginal
children and youth make up 44% of the child welfare caseload in
Alberta. The challenge is assisting First Nations, Metis and other
Aboriginal children, youth and families to identify solutions.
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- Partnerships:
Strengthen the role and capacity of Aboriginal Communities.
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- Many
independent agencies and organizations are working hard at the
community level but not necessarily with a cooperative and coordinated
approach. The challenge is to ensure the integration of services
so that communities are safe, healthy and self-reliant for children,
youth and families.
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Partnerships:
Promote the strategic alliances needed in communities to plan, deliver
and assess services that promote positive outcomes for children and
families. |
strategic
priorities 2004-07
Through
the Ministry's review of external and internal challenges, the strategic
priorities described below have been identified. These are in addition
to the important ongoing core activities of the Ministry.
| 1.
Prevention of Family Violence Linkage:
Goals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
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CHILDREN'S
SERVICES will consult with Albertans, through a series of mini-roundtables,
to work towards an Alberta free from family violence. A new provincial
response to family violence will be developed with strengthened
community-based, comprehensive services and supports for children
and other family members who witness or are victims of family violence.
This will be achieved through sustained and secure funding which
will cover both prevention and protection. Prevention of family
violence is everybody's business. |
| 2.
Parenting Resources Linkage:
Goals 1, 2, 4 and 5 |
CHILDREN'S
SERVICES will develop cross-ministry, community-based, parent resource
centres to assist parents in giving children a healthy start and
to support children in realizing their potential. Centres will focus
on parent information and skills, early childhood development and
readiness-to-learn resources, assessing child care options, and
facilitating cross-ministry supports for children, youth, and families. |
| 3.
Resources for Children with Disabilities
Linkage: Goals 1, 2, 4 and 5 |
CHILDREN'S
SERVICES will implement the new Family Support for Children
with Disabilities Act to provide appropriate resources to help
families meet the needs of and promote the abilities of children
and youth with disabilities, helping them to achieve their potential.
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| 4.
Redefining Child Welfare
Linkage: Goals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 |
CHILDREN'S
SERVICES will implement the new Child, Youth and Family Enhancement
Act which will, together with the Alberta Response Model, provide
community resources to help families: overcome at risk circumstances,
care for their own children, improve the safety and well-being of
children and youth in need, assure quality services, shorten the
time children and youth spend in government care, and reunite children
with their families or placement in other permanent, nurturing homes.
This includes supports to help youth make a successful transition
from child welfare to independence.
CHILDREN'S SERVICES will work with partners to develop an Office
of the Children's Lawyer to provide children with access to lawyers,
to ensure that they are represented by legal counsel in contentious
access and custody challenges, and when children are harmed in care.
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| 5.Partnerships
Linkage:
Goals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 |
CHILDREN'S
SERVICES will develop strategic partnerships to promote strong children,
youth, families and communities, and champion the best interests
of children, youth and families through Cross-Ministry Initiatives,
in particular:
- Alberta
Children and Youth Initiative to support the healthy development
of children and youth.
- Aboriginal
Policy Initiative to improve the well being and self reliance
of Aboriginal people, and to clarify federal, provincial and Aboriginal
roles and responsibilities.
- Health Sustainability
Initiative enhances the sustainability of the health system now
and in the future by strengthening policy integration and collaboration
across ministries.
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core
businesses, goals, strategies and measures
CORE
BUSINESS ONE: Promoting the development and well-being of children,
youth and families
GOAL
1: Children and youth will have a healthy start in life and the supports
they need to reach their potential
What it means
The Ministry supports
parents in giving children a healthy start in life and providing
them with the foundations to learn, grow and succeed. While parents
have the primary responsibility for raising their children, governments,
communities, organizations, schools, and businesses all have supporting
roles to play in meeting the needs of children and youth. In doing
so, the Ministry together with partners recognizes the importance
that must be placed on the first six years of a child's experience
because this sets the tone for life long development, and how children
will learn and cope as adults.
Outcomes
Children and youth are physically, emotionally, socially,
intellectually and spiritually healthy.
Children and youth meet individual developmental milestones.
Strategies
- Develop a new Provincial Response to
Family Violence with strengthened community-based services and resources
for children and other family members and work towards an Alberta free
from family violence.
- Develop cross-ministry, community-based
parent resources that assist parents with information and skills to
give children the best possible start in life, and the supports to learn,
grow and succeed.
- Strengthen and integrate early child development
services, early screening, childcare resources, and cross-ministry and
community-based services for children, youth and families with parent
resource centres.
- Continue cross-ministry implementation
of the Policy Framework for Children and Youth with Special and Complex
Needs, including the integrated case management model for children and
youth with complex needs.
- Implement child care standards and investigate
options that strengthen the ability of families in all communities to
care for their children, support children in meeting developmental milestones,
and balance home and work.
- Continue to work with partners in the
implementation of the Youth in Transition Framework to better address
the needs of youth and help them make a successful transition to adulthood
including further learning, employment, and adult supports where needed.
- Ensure youth in care and those who recently
left care, are provided access to the Ministry Bursary Program to support
vocational and educational pursuits.
- Work with other ministries and partners
to improve the services aimed at preventing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder,
by reducing substance abuse through increased awareness targeted at
high-risk mothers, and to address the needs of children, youth and families
affected.
- Work with municipalities to strengthen
community-based services for children, youth and families through the
Family and Community Support Services program.
Performance Measures
CORE
BUSINESS TWO: Keeping children, youth and families safe and protected
GOAL
2: Families will be safe, healthy, and able to promote children's
development
What it means
Healthy families are the best and most secure means for raising
children. Therefore, the Ministry works with all its partners to
promote community-based resources that help preserve and support
families in overcoming at-risk circumstances to ensure that children
reside in permanent, nurturing homes.
Outcomes
Children, youth and families overcome at-risk circumstances.
Children, youth and families are safe, healthy, resilient and self-reliant.
Strategies
- Develop a coordinated
Provincial Response to Family Violence with strengthened community-based
services, resources and supports for children and other family members
who witness or are victims of family violence, and improve the services
in women's shelters.
- Implement the new Family Support for Children with Disabilities
Act and policies to re-focus Resources for Children with Disabilities
on early intervention and family supports, and better co-ordinate services
among partners so that families obtain consistent, long-term supports
for their children and youth.
- Work with other ministries and community partners to develop a seamless
continuum of supports to help preserve families and their ability to
nurture their children's well-being and development.
- Continue implementing, assessing and adjusting the Alberta Response
Model to improve community-based early intervention strategies to assist
families overcome at-risk circumstances and care for their own children.
Performance
Measures
GOAL
3: Children in need will be protected and supported by permanent, nurturing
relationships
What
it means
Every child deserves a home where they are safe and nurtured. The
Ministry intervenes to protect children from abuse and neglect,
and ensure that children are reunited with their families as soon
as possible whenever appropriate, or are placed in other nurturing,
permanent homes.
Outcomes
Children and youth in need are protected from further abuse
and neglect.
Children and youth in care are placed in secure, and stable environments
that allow for the development of life-long relationships and connection
to family and community.
Strategies
- Implement the new Child,
Youth and Family Enhancement Act which will improve the safety
and well-being of children, involve families and children in decision
making, assure quality services to promote children's development, shorten
the time children spend in government care, and unite children with
their families or other permanent, nurturing homes.
- Implement the recommendations
of the Foster Care Review to better respond to the needs of children
in care.
- Improve the Adoptions Program
and Post-Adoption services to increase the number of children in need
that are placed in permanent, nurturing homes through increased media
recruitment and enhanced post-adoptive supports.
- Continue to develop a quality
assurance system to improve the quality, consistency, and accountability
of child protective services across the province and outcomes for children
and families.
- Work with partners to develop
the Office of the Children's Lawyer to provide children with access
to lawyers in contentious access and custody challenges, and when children
are harmed while in care.
- Re-focus preventive and
treatment services for the protection of children and youth at risk
of or involved in prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation.
- Undertake a review of the
Social Care Facilities Licensing Act, to promote quality of
care in social care facilities.
- Ensure that intentional and
formal transition planning occurs for all youth in care.
- Improve access to mentoring
programs to help increase the educational attainment of children and
youth in care, and ensure that service plans are in place to support
the needs for a successful transition of youth to adulthood.
- Further develop the role
of the Children's Advocate to ensure that children in the system are
heard and their rights protected.
Performance
Measures
CORE
BUSINESS THREE: Promoting healthy communities for children, youth
and families
GOAL
4: The well-being and self-reliance of Aboriginal children, families and
communities will be promoted, supported and comparable to that of other
Albertans
What
it means
First Nations, Metis and other Aboriginal peoples have the desire,
ability and commitment to improve outcomes for and the success of
Alberta's children, families and communities. The Ministry works
with First Nations, Metis and other Aboriginal peoples to build
on the strengths of Aboriginal communities in developing the governance,
accountability and service delivery capacity to promote the care
of their children, youth, and families.
Outcomes
Aboriginal communities have the capacity to meet the needs of children,
youth and families.
There is a reduced number of Aboriginal children represented in
the child welfare caseload.
Aboriginal children, youth and family receive culturally appropriate
services.
Strategies
- Continue to implement the
Ministry's Aboriginal Policy Initiative strategies to address gaps and
improve the quality of services designed to meet the needs of Aboriginal
children, youth and families.
- Develop a strategy to improve
the participation of and partnerships with First Nations, Metis, and
other Aboriginal peoples in the design and delivery of services to children,
youth and families.
- In collaboration with all
the partners, review provincial policies and programs to ensure that
they are working towards meeting the needs of First Nations, Metis and
other Aboriginal communities.
- Implement strategies with
Aboriginal communities to prevent and reduce the incidence of youth
suicide.
- Promote and improve access
to the Ministry's bursary and mentoring programs to help increase the
educational attainment of Aboriginal children and youth in care, to
support vocational and educational pursuits and contribute to the supports
they need for a successful transition to adulthood.
- In collaboration with First
Nations representatives, continue to strengthen the accountability framework
for child welfare agreements that support First Nations communities
in the governance, delivery and evaluation of child protection and permanency
planning services for Aboriginal children and youth.
- Develop a new agreement
to promote joint planning and action between the Ministry, the Metis
Nation of Alberta Association, Metis Settlements General Council and
Metis Settlements respecting equitable participation and involvement
of Metis peoples in the programs, policies and standards that affect
Metis children.
Performance
Measures
GOAL
5: Communities will have the capacity to plan and deliver services that
promote the well-being of children, youth and families
What
it means
Children must have safe places to learn, grow and thrive outside
the home, and a strong connection to family and community. The Ministry
works in partnership with Albertans to develop resources that make
communities safe, healthy and self-reliant, and that build on the
unique capacity of communities to deliver the right services for
children, youth and families, in the right place, and at the right
time.
Outcomes
Alberta is recognized for leadership in promoting strong children,
families and communities at the international, national, provincial
and community levels.
Communities are responsive to the needs, values and cultures of
children and their families.
Children, youth and families participate in decisions that affect
them.
Albertans are involved in addressing issues faced by children, youth
and families.
Strategies
- Champion the best interests
of children and youth through Cross-Ministry Initiatives, in particular:
- Alberta Children and
Youth Initiative to support the healthy development of children
and youth
- Aboriginal Policy Initiative
to improve the well-being and self reliance of Aboriginal people,
and to clarify federal, provincial and Aboriginal roles and responsibilities,
- Health Sustainability
Initiative enhances the sustainability of the health system now
and in the future by strengthening policy integration and collaboration
across ministries.
- Promote the capacity and
accountability of Child and Family Services Authorities, Family and
Community Support Services, and Aboriginal communities to design, integrate,
deliver and assess services for children, youth and families.
- Work with partners to provide
natural advocates and opportunities for adults to connect with vulnerable
children and youth who would benefit from having the support of an adult.
- Collaborate with the Alberta
Centre for Child, Family and Community Research, community, Ministry
and university partners to promote policy-relevant research and best
practices to improve outcomes for children, youth, families, and communities.
- Facilitate opportunities
for citizens to participate in public forums and discussions to advance
the well-being of children, youth and families, including the Children's
Forum, Youth Advisory Panel, and Youth Forums.
- Provide leadership on international,
national, and inter-provincial initiatives to promote the safety, well-being
and development of children, youth and families.
- Develop an educational awareness
campaign among Albertans on the needs and achievements of Alberta's
children, youth and families.
- Support the implementation
of Alberta's Promise, a public-private partnership dedicated to finding
new and better ways of working together to give children the opportunity
to lead happy, healthy, and successful lives.
Performance Measure
MINISTRY-WIDE
CORPORATE STRATEGIES
The Ministry's corporate
strategies support goal achievement across all three core businesses.
Children's Services is committed to staff development, strengthening the
business practices and infrastructure required to deliver services, and
promoting the cost effective management of resources to improve outcomes
for children, youth, and families. Children's Services will:
I. Develop Ministry-wide
performance measures with a focus on aligning these with the National
Outcome Measures to improve comparability, linkages with regional authorities,
and effective management and reporting of results.
II. Improve communications
with all partners in the design and delivery of policies, programs and
services for children, youth and families.
III. Involve clients
and stakeholders in the regular evaluation of programs and services to
continuously benefit children, youth and their families.
IV. Strengthen the
accountability framework in regional authorities, delegated First Nations
agencies, and Family and Community Support Services.
V. Implement a strategy
to attract, retain, and develop staff skills across the Ministry in keeping
with government's Corporate Human Resource Development strategy.
VI. Increase the
effectiveness of the Ministry's information management and technology.
VII. Establish and
maintain leading edge financial management and other business "best
practices".
EXPENSE
BY CORE BUSINESS
MINISTRY
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
CONSOLIDATED
NET OPERATING RESULT
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