GN releases framework in response to auditor general criticisms
Plan’s release comes almost a year after report found GN was ‘failing vulnerable children’ in its care
Family Services Minister Margaret Nakashuk tabled a new strategic framework to address serious issues the federal auditor general found in the department’s handling of children in its care. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Nunavut’s Family Services Department released a plan Friday that’s part of the government’s response to a 2023 federal auditor general report that accused the department of failing vulnerable children in its care.
The Family Wellness Strategic Framework — Ilagiitsiarniq in Inuktitut — reveals 14 actions underway or already completed in response to the auditor general’s report.
Those actions include plans to address workplace violence and occupational health and safety, launching an online information management system for front-line workers and creating a full-time inter-provincial case manager to oversee “relationships and issues in other jurisdictions” while children are in care outside the territory.
The framework also outlines six priorities for improvement, including investigations, case management and recruitment and retention of employees.
Each of those was highlighted as a systemic problem area in the auditor general’s report.
The framework outlines how each will be addressed between 2023 and 2028.
The next stage “will involve extensive consultation with other government departments, and external entities including Inuit organizations and the Representative for Children and Youth Office,” Family Services Minister Margaret Nakashuk said in releasing the plan.
She added the Family Services Department continues to work closely with the auditor general’s office as it responds to issues the report highlighted.
Nakashuk did not respond to Nunatsiaq News’s request for an interview about the plan.
The auditor general’s report found systemic failures in record-keeping, case followup and use of proper procedures.
It stated the department was unable to provide an accurate count of the number of children in its care.
Since the report was released, Family Services has taken a “whole-of-government approach” in preparing the framework, involving several departments to ensure information was shared.
Described in a Family Services report as a “one client – one plan model,” the plan aims to ensure all community-based staff work cross-departmentally to “make it easier for Nunavummiut to access services that meet their individual and family needs.”
On Monday, the Government of Nunavut released its 2024-25 budget that increased the Family Services Department’s allocation by $15.6 million to just under $197 million for the coming year.
It also allocated $3.1 million to fill 31 new positions in Family Services and set aside $1.1 million for Nunavut Arctic College to expand its social worker program.
The department’s plan also included a goal to hire 20 community social service workers by January. It is unclear whether that goal has been achieved.
The public first learned of the Family Services Department’s framework’s development in September when deputy ministers were grilled during a hearing of Nunavut’s government operations and public accounts committee at the legislative assembly over the failures uncovered by the auditor general.
A month later, Nakashuk apologized on behalf of the government and her department for its failure to protect vulnerable children in its care.
“The department fully understands that this is a crisis and is deeply committed to making the changes that need to be made,” Nakashuk said.
“A month later, Nakashuk apologized on behalf of the government and her department for its failure to protect vulnerable children in its care.”
What happens when parents fail to protect vulnerable children in their care?
What happens when teachers fail to protect vulnerable children in their care?
What happens when day care workers fail to protect vulnerable children in their care?
What should happen when the GN fails to protect vulnerable children in its care?
What actually happens when the GN fails to protect vulnerable children in its care?
Factors residential schools, etc has a heavy burden integrated in indigenous communities But/However change has to come from within. Nursing old wounds and relying on others to take care of things does not bring solutions, not in that alone. Failing the kids and then there is the disregard for their lives in the Middle East. Lest we forget!
Wow , it gone be much better now then Canada have give total control to GN about child care , poor , poor Nunavut kids hope the best for you but……
I think you are confused. The GN has Child welfare responsibilities and had it since its creation, and prior to that it was the Gov of NWT. Not sure what you mean by this statement. If you are referring to the Supreme Court ruling, this means that Inuit have control, not the GN.
Hmm…longtime DM of FS magically transferred shortly before the AG report, GN puts in an acting DM with credentials of a high school diploma. Was anyone fired for the department’s poor performance? Nope. What will it take for politicians and Ministers to take action and clean out the ineffective and basically negligent senior managers? Apparently missing and mistreated kids isn’t enough.
The ministers would have to be competent to understand that prior to be able to action, and that is the issue. The whole incompetence is GN wide, from the clerk all the way up to the minister. Its a chicken or egg scenario.
“Nakashuk did not respond to Nunatsiaq News’s request for an interview about the plan.”
Of course, our culture of unaccountability rears its head. To be fair, the Minister probably doesn’t understand the plan well enough to respond to any serious, unscripted questions about it anyway. Train wreck averted? *phew*