Purpose/Mandate

The Child Welfare Review (CWR) Panel will undertake a comprehensive review of the child welfare system. The panel will examine the child welfare system as a whole rather than looking at any individual program, facility, service or case. The child welfare review will address critical issues affecting the system and in doing so will develop a renewed vision for supporting children, youth and families, and for the child welfare system that serves them. The Review will:

• Identify and examine current child welfare services (prevention, support and protection services) available to children, youth and families across the province;
• Identify and address critical issues relevant to the provision of child welfare services in the province;
• Examine the significant over-representation of First Nations and Métis children and youth in care and address how this disparity could be overcome;
• Explore options and promising practices to improve outcomes for children, youth and families who are receiving or may receive service from the child welfare system.

The mandate of the Child Welfare Review Panel is to:

• Conduct consultations with key stakeholders to examine a range of broad issues concerning the wellbeing of children, youth and their families beginning in Spring 2010.
• Provide a final report and recommendations to Government by the Fall of 2010. While those recommendations are not binding on Government, they will be considered by the Ministry as they continue to examine program and legislative policy changes to the child welfare system.