Due to the recent austerity
agenda our government has put in place we have been witness to many cuts here
in the northern rural areas. The austerity agenda was put in place to help
Canada reduce its billions of dollars in debt. One of the areas that were
affect that I will discuss is the Payukotayno health services, near the
James Bay area (Carpenter, 2012.
The Ministry of
Children and Youth Services (MCYS) cut the program budget by 1.7 million
dollars this year (Carpenter, 2012). The cut to the budget forced to close “two
staff-supported receiving homes and lay off 22 full-time employees, including the
managers and front-line workers who run the homes (Carpenter, 2012). Unfortunately
within the support of workers program must return to being reactive, whereas
with the funding could be proactive. This means that instead of being able to
help the youth immediately and pre-crisis, workers must wait until attempts are
made, or if a youth has committed suicide to help those around (Cochrane
Times Post,
2012). People are what make this environment and world run and as a society we
must work together, as government and people to develop a sustainable community
that give ourselves and our children a future. A government is supposed to help
give everyone an equal opportunity to succeed, the government has done the
opposite by taking away services that are needed, and that were helping the
communities.
We had a guest speaker talk to us in
one of my other classes and she was the Aboriginal Liaisons for Timmins and
surrounding area to the servers up north. She explained to us that the rate of
suicide have been increasing over the past year. She explained to us that
approximately 45 teenagers this year along have taken their lives and the
numbers continue to grow (Chandler,
Lalonde , 1998).
I wonder to myself if we had a political party who main goal was to allow
everyone an equal opportunity for every individual, would they have let things
gotten to where they are now? Would they have taken the time to talk to the
communities, figure out where the needs are and help provide the services they
need in order to live, happier, healthier lifestyles.
If
this party governed this Country, I feel as though these types of decisions
would not be made so abruptly and unexpectedly. The party works
cooperatively with individual to help build and grow communities and not hinder
them by taking away necessary services. This party is for the people and are
willing to help people; working together for a better future for ourselves and
our children.
Christine
References:
Carpenter, Lenny (2012, 08). Province slashes
payukotayno budget. Retrieved from:
Cochrane Times Post. (2012, 09). Bisson questions
the removal of suicide prevention funding. Retrieved from
http://www.cochranetimespost.ca/2012/09/13/bisson-questions-the-removal-of-suicide-prevention-funding
Chandler,
Michael Lalonde, Christopher
(1998) Cultural
Continuity as a Hedge against Suicide in
Canada's First Nations.
Transcultural Psychiatry 35 (2), 191-21. Retrieved from http://resolver.scholarsportal.info/resolve/13634615/v35i0002/191_ccaahasicfn
Hey Chistine,
ReplyDeleteI agree 100%, and think it is sad that so many things are now having to be used on a needs basis instead of on a looking for needs basis. This is because in so many cases I truely believe we find things that need our attention not when they do but in many cases just before they need us. This allows us to adjust our presence in that need to accomidate it as it really needs to be not apply the singfle lens we have at the moment it hits high priority.
Thank you for discussing this for the people in northern and rural area's
Angela
This is so sad. As a student in the social work program as well as a person working in the educational field, topics like this worry me. Why is it that government can put aside 100 million dollars to build more LCBO's but cuts funds dedicated for kid's mental health(CBC News, 2012)? This is crazy. I can't understand the logic. Sure I read the part about job creation but what about the jobs that are being cut? Jobs that are actually helping kids to grow up healthy and become an active member of society? And why is it that kids needs to be in a situation that requires intervening before they can get the help, when we know prevention works more efficiently? All of this worries me as a young person entering the field. Why am I doing all this education? I mean my heart tells me for the kids, my head is asking will I have a job?
ReplyDeleteLiquor should be sold outside LCBO, say Ontario PCs (Aug, 2012)CBC News Posted: Aug 9, 2012 9:27 AM retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/08/09/ontario-liquor-stores369.html
Comment above was posted by Angele
ReplyDeleteThis blog made me think about a lot of things. First of all if all of these full time workers were laid off who is looking after the youth in these group homes and youth services? It saddens me that the suicide prevention can only be reactive at a time like this. Without the support of front line workers and advocates some youth may spiral out of control and in deed attempt suicide. I am a Child and Youth Worker first and this blog really raised some concerns for me. Thanks
ReplyDeleteKristin*
Greatly unfortuante! I am really started to get extremly bothered by all the cuts in funding for social agencies these days. The government SHOULD care about the well-being of the country but disgustingly enough they do not. We really do live in a throw away society, and perhaps a heartless one too. Everyone knows that prevention is so important; it shocks me that it is written off so easily. It is stupidity like this that has me so concerned as to where I will stand when I'm done school. I have a CYW background, and I will soon have a Social Work one as well; I feel I can be effective however, who knows if their will be any jobs. It's really not only about the jobs though, it's also about not meeting the needs of communities, individuals, families etc. Where will these individuals turn? I'm scared that the day will come where no social services can be of help because of the sparse amount of them. I've got a couple "kind" words for Harper, let's leave it at that.
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job.
Cassandra
I grew up in the system as and experienced first hand what its like to have the programs that are active in your life have huge funding cuts, or be completely dismantled all together. Now as a Social Worker, and also a Child and Youth Worker, I feel very distraught at seeing today's youth go through the same program cuts that I went through. It was disastrous for many youth in my generation, and without proper safety nets, I foresee history repeating itself in many lives. This is our future generation and we sure aren't giving them much of a fighting chance.
ReplyDeleteLarissa C
I have discussed this issue with my Child and Youth Worker class in regards to Sault Ste. Marie as well. We went through a list of cuts to social services for youth and their families. As we continued to scroll down devastated at the cuts we see at the bottom of the page… open 25 new LCBO’s. Are you serious?! The government is cutting all of the services to help with addictions but is opening 25 new liquor stores. This is so counterproductive. The experiences that I have discussed with several people and government cuts is that the government cuts what is working and then when it all goes down the drain they re-implement them. Once everything is better they cut them again. Why not just keep what is working?
ReplyDelete-Britney
LGBT
This is unfortunate what is happening with all these cut backs. Programs need more funding, I think this will have detrimental effects on society. I think all the government is concerned about is making money, and saving money. However, maybe the government should look at cutting back the big positions like CEO's and managers wages back. A hospital CEO makes around 300 thousand. Yet in the hospital you see many cut backs in jobs that keep the place running, which is essential to good patient care. These small jobs that are experiencing cut backs have the most devastating effects, people need certain programs for their well-being. This reality of cut backs could possibly cost the government in the long run. If we do not support the youth right now we will see a vicious cycle occur, which may lead to the government putting more money into the criminal justice system and hospitals.
ReplyDeleteAlissa B- mental illness group