After-hours Help now Available to Regina Families in Crisis

News Release – March 15, 2012

The headquarters for an intensive after-hours in-home support program opened its doors today in Regina.

Fox Valley Counselling Services Inc. held its official grand opening this morning thanks to more than $439,000 in operational funding from the Ministry of Social Services.

“I want to congratulate Fox Valley on the grand opening of its new office,” Social Services Minister June Draude said. “This new location will allow Fox Valley to provide an Intensive In-Home Support Program in Regina that will respond to the needs of families in crisis with the goal of addressing child safety while reducing the number of children removed from their homes.””This funding demonstrates the government’s commitment to working in partnership with First Nations and Métis families,” Fox Valley Counselling Services Inc. Chairperson Keith Pratt said. “We will now be able to help more families in crisis and, when appropriate, allow more children to remain with their family.”

The ministry also partners with Fox Valley through annual funding of $203,000 to run Talking Circles – a program that helps develop a more co-operative and open relationship between front-line caseworkers and families involved in Child Protection Services.

Across Saskatchewan, programs like Fox Valley are part of an overall initiative to transform the child welfare system to provide better supports that keep more families together. These investments are already having an impact. The number of children coming into care is down for the first time in a decade and the ministry has been able to increase the number of children placed permanently with extended family caregivers by 47 per cent since 2007.

Overall, the province has invested $84 million in new funding specifically for child and family services since November 2007. Included in this total funding is over $48 million in increased support for community based organizations serving children, youth and their families. These funding increases have helped community-based organizations deliver important programs that improve the lives of our most vulnerable citizens.

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For more information, contact:
Andrew Dinsmore
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8689
Email: andrew.dinsmore@gov.sk.ca