Province commits $6.1M for foster parents

Manitoba will pump$6.1 million into foster care with the hope of recruiting and retaining more foster parents, Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh said Monday.

Among the changes, basic rates will go up by about 23 per cent over 14 months starting Jan. 1, 2007, while allowances for recreation and other extras will rise by 36 per cent over the same period,he said.

The province will also pay for approved child safety items, such as cribs and car seats. As well, it will set up a fund to cover funerals and provide counselling for foster parents when children die or leave.

Cathy Wiebe, the head of the Manitoba Foster Families Network, said Monday she welcomes the rate increases, especially after years with no improvements.

"It's going to help because at least it brings us back to where we were, and that's helpful," Wiebe said.

"The fact that they're acknowledging that we do pay a fair amount of money out of our own pockets, and that those dollars are not done for any other reason than we love our kids."

Earlier in October, Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh pledged more money for foster care as part of $42 million to improve the province's child welfare system.

The funding, to be spent over the next three years, came following the release of two reviews criticizing the child welfare system.

The reports prepared by the provincial children's advocate, provincial ombudsman, and external parties said the system needed more money, additional workers, and improved training and resources for workers and foster parents, including the creation of a computerized tracking system.

The province agreed to implement more than 200 recommendations listed in the reports.