Why are services to vulnerable children even on the table?
By Monty Tyrwhitt-Drake Vice-chairman, Powell River Child, Youth and Family Services Society
Vancouver Sun
February 20, 2010

Re: Province to cut $10 million from services, Feb. 12

The Powell River Child, Youth and Family Services Society and other agencies like ours, are now in the position of deciding which child to throw into the ocean to keep the lifeboat from sinking. At a time when families are struggling due to job loss, low vacancy rates and rising costs for everyday needs, the ministry of children and family development has been required to take a substantial funding cut. Because some services within the ministry are being held exempt from the cuts, others are facing even greater reductions to make up the difference.

The services open to these proportionately bigger cuts are the Family Preservation, Family Support and Youth Services programs. These provide vital support to children living in the least optimal situations. When people phone the Help Line or the local ministry office to report a child being neglected or abused, or a teen who is living from sofa to sofa with drug dealers, these services are the first line of defence. When they've been depleted, you can expect to see a significant rise in the number of children in care, youth on the street, and tragic injury or loss of life.

Why are services to vulnerable children and youth even on the table?

Which children will this government choose to throw out in order to balance the budget?