Budget Backgrounder: Committed to Caring for Children

The government of Nova Scotia is committed to helping children by increasing Community Services funding for a number of family and children's programs. In releasing the 1999-2000 provincial budget today, Finance Minister Don Downe outlined an 11.2 per cent increase in children and family services funding over last year.

CHILD WELFARE AND FOSTER CARE
The province will add $1 million to child welfare services to enhance programs for Nova Scotia's most vulnerable children. Twenty-five staff members will be added across the province in the areas of foster care, adoption and child protection. This follows the addition of 49 staff members over the past three years.

RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENT CENTRES
Another $3 million has been earmarked for residential services to ensure a full range of care for children who may have behavioural or emotional problems. The province supports four new regional placement facilities and services for children and youth in government care. Children are now being placed at the Ralph Allen Centre in Dartmouth and the Dayspring Adolescent Treatment Centre near Bridgewater. Construction is expected to begin soon on a facility in Plymouth, near New Glasgow, and a parent counsellor program will be funded in Sydney.

Plans for the final piece in the "care continuum," a secure treatment facility, will also proceed this year. As recommended in the 1997 report Too Good to Lose, these services will allow children and youth with the most complex needs to be served in their home province.

SUPPORT TO FAMILIES
Funding to the province's in-home support program is increasing by $345,000. This will help address the needs of families caring for children with disabilities. Four respite care programs will receive grants of $60,000 each to help provide the specialized supports families of children with disabilities require. These respite programs will be established in each region of the province.

CHILD CARE
An additional $250,000 has been added to the child-care budget. This will add more subsidized day-care spaces and help child-care centres maintain high-quality programs. This funding is in addition to programs offered under the National Child Benefit Healthy Child Development Initiatives.