New software hailed as one fix for Nunavut’s ailing foster system

Nunavut’s Department of Family Services is rolling out a new information system to handle its case management for youth in care.

Family Services Minister Margaret Nakashuk announced in the legislative assembly Tuesday that her department is finalizing training for the new system, which is scheduled to go live Nov. 30.

The Family Wellness Integrated Case Management System is a slightly modified version of Matrix information management software that is already in use in the Northwest Territories, according to spokesperson Anthony Canny.

The move is in response to a May 30 report from Canada’s auditor general that slams the GN for the third time in 12 years, saying the government is still failing to provide adequate care to its vulnerable children and youth in care. The auditor general’s office released its previous reports in 2011 and 2014.

The most recent report cites ineffective information management as a root cause for the issue. The old software, procured after the 2014 audit, did not meet the department’s needs and staff did not appear to be using it.

“We found that each of the five communities we visited had different approaches to managing their case files,” the report says.

“Some communities kept paper files; some kept electronic files on individual computers, USB keys or the department’s existing case management system; and some used combined methods.”

The report also found confidentiality issues with these methods of information management.

“Access to reliable, accurate and up-to-date information in a centralized system is essential for knowledge continuity, data collection and informed decision-making,” Nakashuk said in the legislative assembly Monday, echoing a line from the most recent report.