Ontario looking at child welfare reform

Community Action, Feb 16, 2004

TORONTO -- The Ontario government will add $64 million additional funds to the province's Children's Aid Societies, Services Minister Dr. Marie Bountrogianni announced.

A total of $64 million will be distributed to the societies to address this year's needs. The provincial government expects to build a "more sustainable, accountable system of child welfare".

The province will spend more than $1 billion in 2003/04 on services for more than 30,000 children who need protection from abuse or neglect. Escalating costs in the past decade have heightened the need for real reform in the child welfare system, Dr. Bountrogianni said.

She indicated the focus will be on achieving positive results for children, including finding permanent families for more children and helping prevent abuse before it starts.

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