'Government is not an adequate parent': Children's advocate calls for better care options

Manitoba's children's advocate is urgingthe province to better protect almost 6,000 kids in permanent care byfinding "loving family environments."

Darlene MacDonald released a special report, Permanency Beyond Foster Care, on Wednesday, recommendingthe province assess whether its rules and policies meet priorities set out by the United Nations on the rights of children and indigenous people.

"If we want the child welfare system to operate in the best interests of children, youthand families, leaving a child or youth to languish in care as a permanent ward cannot be acceptable," MacDonaldsaid.

"We need to see the system get more creative and more assertively seek out extended family and community members who can provide stable, loving, long-term options. Involving family and community is the only way in which the long-term needs of children will be met. The government is not an adequate parent."

Overall, the current system lacks stability and permanency, MacDonald said.

"It's concerning because children just stay in care. There are babies who come into the system who do not get secure homes, whether that's through custom adoption or other opportunities with relatives."

In 2014, there were 10,293 children in care in Manitobaand of those, 5,848 (57 per cent) were in care as permanent wards, theOffice of the Children's Advocate reports.

Children have a right to grow up in a continuous family environment in which they can flourish, the report states.

"When it is not possible to return children to their immediate family, the government must fulfilits obligations to work in a child's best interest and actively build solutions that provide loving family environments to children in care," it states.

"Developing extended family and community or kin placements must be made a priority for how the child welfare system operates."

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The report also calls on the government to support custom adoptions that reflect indigenous values for First Nations children.

MacDonalddeclined to outline what custom adoption should look like, saying she would like to seeindigenous community leadershipset forth that vision.

"What we've seen is kids want a connection to the community. Kids want to know who their parents are and they want stability," she said.

"We need to work with them so it happens in a safe manner."

Just beforethe children's advocate'sreport was released, the province announced it is pursuing legislativechanges tothe Child and Family ServicesAct that would see more traditional methods of care put in place for indigenous fosterchildren.