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ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᖏᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓪᓗ
Munarhiliqiyikkut Inuuhiriknirmullu
Department of Health and Social Services
Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux
An Overview of Social Services Programs
Contents
Director’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Adoption services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Guardianship services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Community corrections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
The Child and Family Services Act requires the Director Social Services Workers provide the service delivery for
of Child and Family Services to report to the Minister the Department. They are required to carry out many
of Health and Social Services (HSS) each year on the different functions across the range of social services
administration of the Act. This Annual Report is for the programs for which the department is responsible.
2008/2009 fiscal year. It is important that our Social Services Workers be
generalists, as the territory is large, its population small
This report contains a brief description of the social and Social Services staff are few in number.
services programs provided by the Department of Health
and Social Services as well as information on the clients An issue that has emerged and that continues to be a
we serve. In closing, the report outlines some of the source of concern is the number of children and youth
challenges HSS faces in delivering the social services requiring specialized behavioural treatment and the
required to support children and families in Nunavut. need to place them outside Nunavut, as there are no
specialized care facilities in the territory.
The Department of Health and Social Services is
committed to providing client-centered programs As always, we express our appreciation to the people
and services to children and families across Nunavut. outside the department who we work closely with
Some of these programs are required under Nunavut and on whom we rely heavily for assistance and
legislation, such as the Child and Family Services Act, expertise. Without the help of professionals and other
the Adoption Act and the Guardian and Trusteeship Nunavummiut who share our vision of wellness it would
Act. Others, such as adult residential care and family be impossible to deliver effective and efficient programs
violence response programs, have been developed by and services for children, youth and families. We thank
the Department of Health and Social Services to address them for their dedication to protecting children and
particular needs of Nunavut residents. strengthening families.
Norm Murray
Director of Child and Family Services
2008-09 Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services
An Overview of Social Services Programs
2008-09 Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services
Adoption Services
Adoption provides permanent families to children whose Nunavut has a surprisingly high number of adoptions
each year considering the size of our population. This
birth families cannot care for them for any one of a
may be due to the high birthrate in Nunavut and the
number of reasons. Adoption is a lifelong experience number of young parents.
that affects adopted children and adults, and birth and
As shown in 2006 Statistics Canada data, Nunavut’s
adoptive families. It is both a legal and a social process. average birthrate – 25.2 births for every 1,000 people –
The purpose is to provide every child legally available is much higher than the Canadian average birthrate –
for adoption with the stability and security of new and 10.5 births for every 1,000 people.
permanent family ties. During 2008- 2009 there were:
• 176 Aboriginal Custom Adoptions
The Department of Health and Social Services is • 16 Private/Step Parent Adoptions
committed to supporting adoptions in Nunavut that • 2 Departmental Adoptions
reflect Inuit traditions. The primary concern is the child’s • 0 International Adoptions
best interest. In Nunavut, adoptions are governed by the: Aboriginal Custom Adoption, the preferred adoption
• Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act method of Nunavummiut, accounted for 90% of all
• Adoption Act adoptions in 2008-2009.
• Inter-Country Adoption Act (Hague Convention) Of 2,290 adoptions in Nunavut since 1999, 2,068 (90%)
have been Custom Adoptions that follow
The Director of Adoptions is appointed by the Minister Inuit tradition.
of Health and Social Services. Social Services Workers
are appointed as adoption workers by the Director of
Adoptions. The Director is responsible for developing
and managing the adoption program, and for ensuring
that all legal requirements are met. The Director
deals with various federal, provincial and territorial
government divisions.
2008-09 Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services
An Overview of Social Services Programs
Private/Step-Parent Adoption
Private/Step Parent Adoption occurs after an adoption
plan is created and is made through the Court in
accordance with the Adoption Act, between a child’s
birth family and adopting parents.
2008-09 Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services
Guardianship Services
2008-09 Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services
An Overview of Social Services Programs
2008-09 Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services
Family Violence Services
The Department of Health and Social Services
recognizes that family violence is a major concern in
Nunavut.
2008-09 Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services
An Overview of Social Services Programs
10
2008-09 Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services
Supported and Transitional Living
Assistance through supported and transitional living
services can provide an opportunity for vulnerable youth
and adults to study, to work and to make a meaningful
contribution to society, while being protected.
11
2008-09 Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services
An Overview of Social Services Programs
Community Corrections
Social Services Workers serve as Probation
Community Corrections falls under the authority of
Officers in:
the Department of Justice, which is responsible for • Arctic Bay
administration of the Young Offenders Act, the Youth • Chesterfield Inlet
Criminal Justice Act, and the Adult Corrections Act. • Clyde River
• Coral Harbour
Due to lack of funded Community Corrections positions • Grise Fiord
in the Department of Justice, social service workers • Hall Beach
provide corrections services in 14 communities • Kimmirut
• Kugaaruk
on behalf of the Department of Justice. This is in
• Qikiqtarjuaq
accordance with a long-standing Memorandum of • Resolute Bay
Understanding between the Department of Justice and • Repulse Bay
the Department of Health and Social Services. • Sanikiluaq
• Taloyoak
Social Services Workers carry out the community • Whale Cove
corrections role in addition to their regular Department
of Health and Social Services responsibilities.
12
2008-09 Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services
Recommendations for Improving Social Services
13
2008-09 Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services
ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᖏᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓪᓗ
Munarhiliqiyikkut Inuuhiriknirmullu
Department of Health and Social Services
Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux