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HealthWellnessChildFamilyServices2TuesdayApril292014NEWSBRIEFSTwoinhospitalafterConklindrive-byshootingTwomensufferingfromgunshotwoundsweresenttothehospitalfollowingadrive-byshootinginConklinAlta.twoweeksago.WoodBuffalopolicerespondedtoareportoftheshootingat430a.m.onApr.18andwereshortlyonscenewheretheyfoundtwomensufferingfromnon-lifethreateninggunshotwounds.AccordingtotheRCMPsinitialinvestigationthevictimsarebelievedtobeknowntothesuspects.Noarrestshaveyetbeenmadeandpolicesaythereisnodangertothepublic.ThosewithinformationareaskedtocontactWoodBuffaloRCMPbycalling780788-4000orCrimeStoppersat1800222-8477TIPS.TwoFortResolutionteenschargedwitharsonandtheftTwo16-yearoldboyshavebeenchargedwithmultipleoffencesincludingarsonandtheftinconnectiontoarethatconsumedthreebuildingsandmultiplevehiclesinFortResolutiontwoweeksago.ThereoccurredApr.19onHighwayRd.andspreadtoalargeworkshopandtworesidencescausingtensofthousandsofdollarsindamage.Themainresidencewasalsobrokenintoandvandalized.Thetwoboyswerechargedinconnectiontothecrimeafterapoliceinvestigationledofcerstosearchtwohomesinthecommunitywheretheysaytheyrecoveredstolenproperty.Bothteenswillappearinterritorialcourtinthenextfewmonths.USfurtherdelaysKeystoneXLpipelinedecisionThegovernmentoftheUnitedStateshasannounceditisonceagaindelayingtheapprovaldecisionforthecon-troversialKeystoneXLpipelinestatingthatgovernmentagencieswillnowhaveuntiltheendofMaytocommentontheproject.ThedelaylikelymeansthedecisionwillbepostponeduntilaftertheNov.4mid-termelections.TheKeystoneXLpipelineaprojectofCalgary-basedoilsandscompanyTransCanadawithaproposedroutefromCanadasoilsandstoreneriesinTexashasbeenawaitingUSapprovalforthepastveyears.NorthwesternAirannouncesmorningflightstoHighLevelreturningintheafternoonsstartingMay1.NorthwesternAiralreadyconnectsFortSmithtoYellowknifeHayRiverEdmontonFortChipewyanFortMcMurrayRedDeerandKelowna.Formoreinformationcallourreservationsdepartmentat1-877-872-2216orvisitourwebsiteatwww.nwal.ca.DepartmentworkingtohelpcommunitiessupportfamiliesContinuedfrompage1.Althoughweknewtheactwasoutofdateweknewtherewerepressuresweknewtherewereproblemssomeoftheactualleau-ditstheydidthatshowedforexamplechildprotec-tionworkersnotdoingtheadequatefollow-uponfos-tercarehomesornotdoingfollowuponimplementingaplanofcareagreementornotdoingtheappropri-ateinterviewswithchil-drenthatwasfairlynewinformation.Someofthatinforma-tionhadbeguntocometolightoverthepastyearandahalfthroughinternalau-ditsDelanceysaid.Othergapsintheaccountabilityframeworkidentiedbytheauditorgeneralinboththerecentreportandonemadein2011areintheprocessofbeingsolved.Short-termxescomingrstWhilethesystemasawholeneedsmajorupgradesDelanceysaidthealarmingndingsaboutthestateofchildprotectionintheNWThavepushedthedepartmenttondshort-termsolutionsfortheimmediatecrisisintheinterim.Wehavetodotheshort-termxesinthewaywereadministeringthesystemtodaybecauseclearlyitsfailingchildrenbutitsmoreimportantthatwemakethisparadigmshiftwhereweresupportingfamiliestokeepkidsintheirhomesratherthanhav-ingthemcomeintocareshesaid.Tostartthedepart-mentwillbedesignatingtheCEOsofeachregionalhealthauthoritytooverseechildandfamilyservicesasanassistantdirector-ameasurethatwillmakere-portingandaccountabilitymuchsimplerandmoreeffective.Thatwillcomethissummeraftereachhasreceivedthenecessarytraining.Inadditiontheinforma-tionsystemisbeingupdatedtoincludecompliancemoni-toringdigitalredagsthatwillremindprotectionwork-erstodotheirfollow-upsandreporttosupervisorswhenworkisnotbeingdone.BecausethatwilltaketimetobuildDelanceysaidinthemeantimethedepartmentisenforcingasystemofquar-terlyreportingtobegininSeptember.KeepingchildrenintheirhomesYakeleyasaidhewantstoseemorewaysthatcommu-nitiesandAboriginalgov-ernmentscanworkwiththedepartmenttokeepchildren-especiallyofAboriginalfamilies-intheirhomes.IdliketoseeAborigi-nalpeopleinthecommu-nitiesworkingcloselywiththefamilieswheretheycandobudgetingfamilyworkcounselling-workwiththefamilieskeepthechildrenwiththefamilieshesaid.IntheNWTthevastma-jorityofchildreninfostercareareapprehendedincasesofneglectoftenduetoacombinationofdrugoralcoholaddictionsandpoverty.MostofthoseareAboriginal.Delanceysaidthedepart-mentrecognizesthediffer-encebetweenchildrenwhoareatriskduetooutrightabuseversusthoseatriskduetoneglectandneedstodevelopnewwaysofad-dressingthatdifference.Theideaiswecanttreatallthosesituationsthesame.Weneedtondaway...toworkwithfami-liessothatinsteadoftakingchildrenoutofthosehomesyoubuildonthefamilysstrengths-amoresupport-iveapproachtofamiliesatrisktheideabeingtocreateacirclearoundthefamilysothekidisnotatrisk.Itre-quiresashiftinthinking.WhetherthatmeansnewmoneyornewwaysofusingmoneyDelanceysaidthedepartmentdoesntknowyet.Oneideaistocreateasortofafamilypreserva-tionworkerlikethatmen-tionedbyYakeleyawhomaynotbeaGNWTem-ployeebutpartofanNGOorinteragency.Additionallythedepart-mentplanstocontinuework-ingwithcommunitiestoestablishchildandfamilyservicescommitteesacrosstheterritory.WhilethatinitiativehasfailedthusfarDelanceysaiditstimetogobacktothedrawingboardandndwayseachcommunityandAboriginalgovernmentwantstoandcanbeinvolvedinsupport-ingfamilies.Firstofallinasmallcommunitythatsareallytoughroletoplay-intakingawaysomeoneschild.SoIthinkwhatweneedtodoandweneedtochangethelegislationorinitiallyworkoutsidethelegislation...istoworkatthecommunitylevelandsayWheredoyouwanttobeinvolvedinsupportingfamiliesLetsworktogether.FilephotoDeputyministerofHealthandSocialServicesDebbieDelanceysaidthedepartmentrecognizesitisfailingtohelpchildrenandfamiliesbutisactivelyworkingtoimplementchangesrecommendedbytheauditorgeneral.