Union slams 'rushed' facility for at-risk girls in Winnipeg
Criticism comes as number of children in care rises to just under 10,300
As the government is under fire about a new facility for at-risk girls, it released new numbers showing the number of children in care in the province has jumped to more than 10,000.
The Family Services department released its annual report Thursday (read the report below).
It shows 10,293 minors were in foster homes, group homes and emergency shelters as of March 31, 2014.
That's about 300 more than last year. Almost 90 per cent of all children in care are aboriginal.
Meanwhile, the union representing staff at the province's new facility for at-risk girls said the residence could be creating more problems than it solves.
Manitoba's Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross said Wednesday the province is opening it immediately, yet the MGEU says it only found out about it a few days ago.
Union members who will staff the unit have not been specifically trained to work with the new clients, said Bill Anderson, MGEU's director of negotiations.
The building is currently a Child and Family Services facility for boys, who are being moved out.
"We have concerns staff have raised with us regarding appropriate training to deal with this particular client group," said Anderson. "It's a much different group than they have been dealing with previously. We have concerns about the the programming, or lack of programming that might be put in place. There's a number of pieces that the members at the facility have raised with us.
"There is additional planning and preparation that needs to happen," he added. "I know the province has said they have been working on this for some time [but] you certainly don't have the sense that that is the case. It does seem very rushed."
Anderson wonders where the province is going to move the boys and said he is troubled that girls are moving into the building, which he feels is in a place that will put them further at risk.
The location can't be made public, in order to protect the clients, but it is in an area where girls are already being exploited for the sex trade.
"As one person put it, the girls in the unit will be able to look right out the window and see the other girls on the street," Anderson said.
"[For people] to be able to potentially have access to them would be a concern — if there is the ability [for the girls] to come and go from the facility. That is something we will certainly need to look into."
Social workers are also expressing concern.
Charlene Gladu, an independent social worker, said the facility falls far short of what's needed.
"There is more than six kids out there," she said. "Right now I can get on my cell phone and bring you six kids, 30 kids right now."
Government responds to allegations
The government admitted the facility was used for boys formerly but said it was not being used to 'its full potential.'
A spokesperson said there were enough spaces for boys at other crisis stabilization facilities.
The spokesperson did not address the claim the facility is in a dangerous location for sexually exploited girls.
He said said that the locked facility, when it housed boys, operated safely in the location for a number of years.
The government said the planning for the facility started in March, and the transition has been underway for two and a half weeks.
It said staff have experience dealing with youth in crisis, and a leading expert in sexually exploited youth, Jennifer Richarson, is providing additional training to staff.
The spokesperson said any decisions about whether staff may be laid off or retained will be made by the employer, which the government is funding.