Child and Youth Strategy Off to Great Start

Children and families across Nova Scotia are already benefiting from the province's child and youth strategy just a year after it has begun.

The strategy's first annual progress report, titled Our Kids Are Worth It: Our First Year, was released today, Dec. 22, by Community Services Minister Judy Streatch, on behalf of all ministers who oversee programs for children and youth.

"Nothing is more important than making sure our kids are healthy, safe and have the right opportunities to reach their potential," said Ms. Streatch. "This report shows we are well on our way to achieving that goal. Over the past year, we have hired new staff, introduced new programs and determined what we need to do across government to better serve our children and youth."

The strategy's focus is to provide a range of services, from prevention to intervention, that will help give children a strong start in life or help get them back on the right track. The province has committed $5 million annually to the strategy.

Highlights of the work completed to date include:

• hiring an executive director, child and youth strategy
• hiring four regional child and youth specialists who will work directly with communities across the province to implement the strategy
• hiring five youth navigators who will work with at-risk youth and guide them to the proper programs and services they need
• creating 1,050 new child-care spaces, making child care more accessible
• introducing 10 Parenting Journey pilot programs across the province to work with families to promote healthy growth and development of children
• putting the Schools Plus program, which supports more efficient co-ordination of programs and services for students and families, in place in four regional school boards
• establishing in eight communities the Place to Belong pilot program, which provides programs and activities for vulnerable and at-risk youth
• starting the provincial youth advisory network

"It has been a busy and exciting year, one of fresh starts, transitions and innovation," said Robert Wright, executive director, child and youth strategy. "Changing attitudes, building new programs and hiring new staff takes time, but I know we will succeed. The prevalent attitude among virtually everyone I have encountered is a passion for doing their very best to support children, youth and families."

The province's child and youth strategy was a key recommendation of the Nunn Commission Report on the 2004 death of Halifax resident Theresa McEvoy.

Part of the strategy's early success is from strong collaboration between the five government departments responsible for implementing the strategy. The departments of Health, Education, Community Services, Justice, and Health Promotion and Protection are all working together to ensure the right programs and services are accessible to all Nova Scotians.

Our Kids Are Worth It: Our First Year, is available from the Department of Community Services at www.gov.ns.ca/coms .