Hants County Family and Children Services Integrate with Province

Family and Children Services of Hants County board of directors will integrate their services and staff with the Department of Community Services.

Community Services Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse said today, Feb. 25, she welcomes the decision of the board and looks forward to working with the new office.

"We all share a common goal of meeting the needs of our children and making life better for today's families," said Ms. Peterson-Rafuse. "Children in Hants County will continue to be protected and cared for, but they and their families will now benefit from access to more programs and services offered by the province."

Effective Sunday, Feb. 28, Hants County Family and Children Services will become Hants County District Office-Child Welfare and staff will become civil servants. This will bring the number of offices providing child welfare services to 15.

"Most other private agencies in the province have already done this and the board is confident that the families and children of Hants County will continue to receive the same high standard of service and care," said Andrew Wollaver, president Family and Children's Service of Hants County.

Hants County joins Halifax, Cumberland, Annapolis Royal, Digby, Kings, Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne, and Yarmouth as independent agencies who have integrated services with government.