Vulnerable children and youth will find stability in a permanent home as a result of legislative changes introduced today aimed at keeping families together.

Amendments to the Child, Family and Community Service Act (CFCSA), when brought into force, will allow for the transfer of permanent legal custody of a vulnerable child living with extended family to those family members - without having to remove the child into government care first.

These changes are aimed at creating a safe, supportive, caring and stable home - typically with a close, trusted family member or friend - for children and youth who, for a variety of reasons including abuse or neglect, cannot live with their parents. The pending legislation also will ensure that due process is in place before parental rights are severed.

Previously, a child already living with extended family had to be placed into the continuing care of the government before the courts would consider an application to permanently transfer custody to extended family members. The amendment introduced today eliminates that step, creating a simpler, more streamlined process.

Extended family members who have been providing care for their loved ones will be able to provide them with permanent homes more quickly and with less disruption to the child. The changes also will help Aboriginal children and youth stay connected to traditional and cultural roots by enabling them to stay with family members in their own communities.

Child protection and safety remain the ministry's top priority. Important safeguards such as criminal record checks will be in place to help ensure that the child's new home is safe, stable, and loving. The amendments also include important provisions to ensure permanent custody transfers only happen when they are determined to be in a child's best interests. These include a minimum six-month residency period and - importantly - the consent of the child if aged 12 years or over.

This new legislation will apply to children placed with extended families under the Extended Family Program, as well as children who are in the custody of a trusted family member or friend by a temporary court order. If the child has been involved in the Extended Family Program, the permanent custody transfer to the family member will only occur with the parent's consent.

Quick Facts:

• The purpose of the Extended Family Program is to support strong, stable home environments and improve outcomes for children and youth who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to live with their parents.
• In addition to financial assistance, the Extended Family Program offers individual assessment and planning for the child and parent - and supports to children, parents and caregivers.
• The Extended Family Program builds on the strengths of both Child in the Home of a Relative and agreements with a child's kin and others.

An increase to benefits surpassing both of these includes:

• Monthly financial assistance up to $625.
• Supplementary benefits such as dental, health and optical.
• Caregivers may also be eligible for financial supports such as the Child Tax Benefit, B.C. Family Bonus, or Universal Child Benefit.
• The Extended Family Program child caseload now totals 305, an increase of 110 cases since March 2010, when the caseload was 195.
• The Child, Family and Community Service Act was proclaimed in January 1996.
• This act replaced the Family and Child Service Act, which had been in place since 1980. The act restructured the Province's approach to child welfare by bringing in a broader spectrum of responses to child abuse and neglect than the previous act, and by focusing on positive solutions with less disruption for the child.

Learn More:

For more information on the Extended Family Program, go to: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/alternativestofostercare/extended_family.htm

Contact:

Cindy Rose
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-1639