Photo/DAN PELTON DUFFERIN CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES executive director Trish Keachie and the DCAFS staff face the challenge of dealing with provincial funding cuts while still maintaining the level of services the agency provides in the community. While the harsh economic climate is being felt all over, Dufferin Child and Family Services (DCAFS) is being particularly hard-hit, facing a $1.1-million deficit for its current fiscal year.

As have many other child welfare agencies across the province, DCAFS has seen its funding cut by the provincial government, which is providing $23 million less to the agencies than it did last year.

Trish Keachie, the local agency's executive director, said this year differs from previous ones insofar as the government will no longer "mitigate any deficits," or provide any funds to make up for financial shortfalls.

"When it comes to child protection," she said in an interview, "a lot of things are unpredictable."

While accepting that funding cuts are a harsh reality, Ms. Keachie was upset that the DCAFS was not given sufficient notice that such an action was coming. "Suddenly, with no forewarning, almost $900,000 was removed from our budget."

Her concerns were echoed by MPP Sylvia Jones, who also serves as Progressive Conservative critic for Community and Social Services and Child and Youth Services.

"There have never before been so many children's aid societies who are in crisis," said Ms. Jones in a press release. "They have a legislated responsibility to provide front-line care for the most vulnerable children in this province.

"Cutting their budgets will inevitably mean a reduction in services for at-risk children."

"The government has said there is no more money for child welfare, but services to protect children from abuse are not optional or subject to arbitrary reductions," said Jeanette Lewis, Executive Director of the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies (OACAS).

"According to the Child and Family Services Act, CASs must deliver child protection services, on behalf of the Government of Ontario, to vulnerable children and their families. Many agencies have gone into debt to pay for investigations, residential care, support and counselling for children.

"Boards should not have to use credit to deliver the government's services."

Ms. Lews said that in all areas of the province, agencies are contemplating cuts to core services including abuse prevention programs; programs to strengthen families; counselling services for families in crisis; courtordered visits to children in foster and residential care; and collaborative programs with community partners to help families before they are in crisis.

Without sufficient funding, government is forcing CASs to break the rules for child abuse investigation and protection.

For example, CASs will have difficulty responding to high-risk child abuse allegations within the mandated timelines; CASs will not be able to meet minimum mandatory standards of seeing children every month; case workers will be assessing the safety and well-being of children less frequently; children will not be able to visit their biological families as often since CASs will not be able to afford costs of court-ordered access visits.

Despite the recent funding cuts, Ms. Keachie was not entirely critical of the McGuinty government's handling of child services since it was elected in 2003.

In a recent press release, she noted that reforms under the Liberals' Child Welfare Transformation have "had positive results."

Since 2004, the number of children admitted into the care of children's aid societies has decreased by 18 per cent, while there have been five per cent fewer children in care over-all.

Adoptions have increased by 29 per cent.

"These positive outcomes are the result of intensive, customized approaches with families, with a focus on permanency for the child always at the forefront," said Ms. Keachie. "This approach to service simply takes more hours and staff commitment, but is clearly worth the results.

"It's an excellent policy and no one is complaining. But we don't want (the government) moving away from it by making us move backward."

Now, it is the task of the DCAFS, and other similar agencies in Ontario, to find ways to provide the same level of service with less funding.

Ms. Keachie is considering several approaches, including buying, rather than leasing, the Riddell Road facility DCAFS occupies; with the understanding that mortgage payments will be less than rent.

As well, each children's aid agency in the province has its own adoption unit. The service, Ms. Keachie says, could possibly be more centralized to cut down costs.

"We will continue to address our funding needs with the Ministry of Child and Youth Services," she said, "so that we can continue to serve our community effectively and with the level of commitment and expertise our families and children expect and deserve."