Page 1134 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 2 April 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
The number of children exiting care is slowly decreasing. The number of children on long-term orders increased from 560 as at December 2017 to 593 in December 2018, reflecting the stability of placements for children and young people in the out of home care system. This is one reason we are not seeing the reduction in entries reflected in a fall in overall numbers.
The majority of children and young people in out of home care continue to be children and young people on long-term orders. Almost half of children and young people in care are currently placed with kinship carers. The majority of children and young people in residential care continue to be aged 12 and above. A key priority area for ACT Together and child and youth protection services is to continue to work together to reduce the number of children and young people in residential care.
From July to December 2018 there have been a total of 10 enduring parental responsibility orders and one adoption. If this trend continues throughout the remainder of 2018-19, it will be the highest number of enduring parental responsibility orders and adoptions since the implementation of the strategy. In the 2018-19 budget the government delivered $3.46 million over four years to ensure that resources are available to support the timely delivery of permanency outcomes.
From July to December 2018 four kinship carers left the system, with no foster carers electing to leave. The number of new carers approved continues to increase, with 49 foster and kinship carers approved during July to December 2018. During this same period a total of 70 carers had their approved carer status renewed. The increase and retention of carers is a great outcome and demonstrates child and youth protection services and ACT Together’s commitment to supporting carers, who are so central to the out of home care system. Last week that support was given a further boost with the release of a new carers handbook.
As at the end of 2018, 93 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in care had a cultural plan in place. Whilst this number has remained consistent throughout July to December 2018, it is lower than at December 2016 and 2017. Child and youth protection services remains committed to undertaking quarterly reviews to address compliance with this important feature of the system and to ensure quality cultural plans are in place. Cultural plans support the preservation and enhancement of the cultural identity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, and the Our Booris, Our Way steering committee has emphasised the importance of quality plans.
As I mentioned earlier, the data provided in the snapshot report is used by the Community Services Directorate and heads of partner agencies to monitor the progress of A step up for our kids. It is important to note that the data is internal operational data that can be updated and changed between reporting periods, and caution should be exercised when using and interpreting data in this report and comparing between reporting periods.
The Community Services Directorate remains committed to the measurement of long-term outcomes. As members would be aware, A step up for our kids is a
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video