social net in peril

Albertans who depend on social service programs will be left out in the cold if the social service sector doesn’t get an immediate cash injection from the province.

The sector needs an additional $242 million to bring services up to par, said Bill Winship, vice-president of the Alberta Council of Disability Services at a press conference last Wednesday. The severe funding shortfall has handicapped the industry’s ability to attract qualified staff who have been migrating to higher-paying government jobs, say sector spokespeople.

The Alberta government has committed $41 million to social service agencies to attract staff, but even with that extra cash, the sector can only increase wages by five per cent.

Over the past six months, 12 foster homes and six group homes have been temporarily closed, and an intensive residential program and healthy relationships groups for 16 youths per year have been closed permanently.

“Unfortunately, our backs are against the wall today, and Albertan vulnerable children are suffering,” Alberta Association of Services for Children and Families president Patty Kilgallon told reporters. “We are distressed to say that these allocations will not change the problems we are facing.”