WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government promises to make significant changes to Child and Family Services in the wake of the Phoenix Sinclair inquiry.
Sinclair was only five years old when she was murdered by her mother and stepfather. The inquiry into her death made 62 recommendations. The inquiry report was released Jan. 31, 2014.
READ MORE: Social workers’ failures singled out in Phoenix Sinclair report
The province will increase supports for families, Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross said Tuesday.
One of the biggest changes the provincial government promised is to revise the funding model for CFS agencies. There will be a 60 per cent increase for family support from $1,300 to $2,100.
The province will hire an indigenous associate children’s advocate and change legislation to give the children’s advocate greater independence, Irvin-Ross said.
But Irvin-Ross says some of the recommendations may not be feasible.
She says the province may not be able to extend care to all child welfare wards until the age of 25 or reduce caseloads to 20 families per social worker.
“I wish there was one way, there was a magic bullet, but there isn’t,” Irvin-Ross said.
READ MORE: Manitoba government says changes to child welfare will take years
The changes are being made in an effort to encourage public reports of critical incidents.
The province is also launching a pilot project out of Sagkeeng First Nation called Circle of Care, which will focus on helping families who had a child apprehended.
READ MORE: Key events in the Phoenix Sinclair case
With files from Canadian Press
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