VICTORIA, B.C. - The B.C. Green Caucus is calling for a fundamental shift in the foster care system, advocating for direct family support as the primary approach.
“The Ministry continues removing children from homes due to poverty-related social conditions, and failing to provide the care and services they need,” said Sonia Furstenau, Leader of the B.C. Greens and MLA For Cowichan Valley. “Children suffer from inadequate housing, food, and medical care while their parents struggle. The Ministry's role should be to support these families, yet often assistance arrives too late or not at all due to budget constraints and narrow definitions of need.”
The B.C. Green Caucus is proposing transformative change, supporting families directly, rather than solely relying on foster care. By appropriately reallocating the $135,000 spent on each child in care to a family resource fund, we can provide more support and resources for families including:
- Parental support such as coaching, mentorship, counselling, and respite care.
- Access to community programs and facilities.
- Help with basic needs, like nutritious food, housing and healthcare.
“This reform is not merely an improvement; it is a step toward redressing a century of colonial harm, particularly to Indigenous communities,” continued Furstenau. “We advocate for a system that focuses on reconciliation and decolonization, guided by leaders committed to these values.
“Families should not be torn apart because they are poor. By directing funds to help families rather than separating them, the province would be using its resources to help, rather than harm, families in B.C.”
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Media contact
JoJo Beattie
Press Secretary
B.C. Green Caucus
+1 250-882-6187 | [email protected]