Child welfare problems growing in Alberta

The province of Alberta can't keep up with its ballooning child-welfare case load. A just released report on child welfare found a need that's continually outpacing resources and children who are falling through the cracks.

Bob Rechner paints a bleak picture of the state of child welfare in Alberta. Rechner is Alberta's Children's Advocate. He says in the past five years the number of children on welfare has gone up 55 per cent.

"The case load has been rising for the last five, six years. The system does respond by adding additional staff, additional placements. But the system seems hard pressed to keep up with the demand," Rechner said.

But caseload is just one issue. There aren't enough foster homes in the province. Sometimes children sleep in hotels. Sometimes they're cared for by their social workers. And some children find placements with foster parents who can't handle their behavioural problems.

Alberta NDP leader Pam Barratt blames the government for axing so many jobs in the province during its deficit-cutting years. "That inevitably is going to result in greater poverty and consequential child welfare rate increases."

Jack Kuiken is president of the Alberta Association of Registered Social Workers. He says the growing caseload is taking its toll on social workers. "Child welfare workers are under increasing pressure to deal with more and more cases. It's a very difficult job. I think it's been exceptionally good work considering the circumstances. Now it's time to address the circumstances."

The government says it will address the circumstances. It promises to hold an independent review of why the caseload is growing so quickly.