Progress Update on the Child and Family Services System’s Quality Improvement Plan

Child and Family Services (CFS) continues to make progress in transforming its system to meet the needs of children and youth in its care. Since the last progress report update in July 2020, CFS has completed 54% of action items within the Quality Improvement Plan.

Progress on key actions includes:

· Joint funding with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs to the Foster Family Coalition of the NWT to pilot a youth in care network. This is being piloted virtually through the Gaining Life Skills Our Way (GLOW) program.

· All staff have begun receiving mandatory refresher training based on key internal audit findings that will help ensure continued service improvements.

· Developed and made available to all regions training videos to support staff to further improve their interviewing skills.

· Completed updates to the documentation standards, tools, and forms.

Through our COVID-19 pandemic response for Child and Family Services, we have continued to:

· Implement a respite program in partnership with the Foster Family Coalition to support foster caregivers.

Provide expanded support services for families to provide them with short-term financial support to purchase necessities such as diapers, food, and fuel to meet their basic needs when other programs did not provide adequate assistance,
Extend support services for youth in care and young adults who are aging out of the Child and Family Services system.

We are continuing to monitor the effectiveness of these initiatives, and how they may be incorporated into service delivery as part of our commitment towards continual quality improvement.

The Quality Improvement Plan Progress Tracker reflects the latest updates. Visit:

· Quality Improvement Plan (Child and Family Services)

Quote

“Our priority is that any action we make best meets the needs of children and youth, and that their safety and well-being is paramount. This includes their connectedness to family, community and culture. We will continue to work with Indigenous governments, communities, and the NWT Foster Family Coalition to meet this priority, including where necessary making adjustments to the plan.”

- Julie Green, Minister of Health and Social Services

Quick Facts

· The Quality Improvement Plan acts on issues identified through internal audits, the 2018 Auditor General Report, Standing Committee on Government Operations and feedback from staff, Indigenous Governments, Foster Family Coalition of the NWT, and other stakeholders.

· The Quality Improvement Plan is a living document. The Department continuously assesses the system’s capacity to produce key deliverables, which allows for the ability to be flexible and to modify timelines.

The Plan identifies four underlying strategic directions to improve the system and address priorities:
- Culture of Quality: Embedding quality practice into our culture
- Human Resource Planning: Making sure the right people are in the right places
- Building Staff Capacity: Investing in our staff
- Engagement: Drawing on the knowledge and experience of others
To date, 38 action items are completed, 29 are on track, and 3 are on hold.

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Progress Update on the Child and Family Services System’s Quality Improvement Plan