system (Ministry of Social Services). After 18
months of investigation, the Gove Report
(November 1995) was released with 118
recommendations for change to B.C.’s child
welfare system.

The report criticized the ministries delivering
setvices to children in reporting that there were
too many conflicting and overlapping
programs. The report concluded that B.C.
needed to provide a continuum of services and
programs that would ensure the safety of
children and youth.

To accomplish this goal, the report
recommended the transfer of all child, youth
and family services to a new ministry for
children and families. It was believed that a
child-centred ministry would ensure that the
needs and concerns of children were addressed.
It was recommended that youth probation and
related community justice services, youth
containment centres and family court
counselling be transferred to the new ministry
from the Ministry of Attorney General.

In November 1996, the Report of the
Federal-Provincial Territorial Task Force on
Youth Justice reinforced the need for
integration and co-ordination of services for
young offenders. The report stated that youth
crime could not be effectively addressed in
isolation because many young offenders have
multiple needs that require a range of responses
to address their offending behaviour. To meet

this need, it was critical to co-ordinate several
agencies with the resources, mandates and
expertise to deal with the diverse needs of

youth. These agencies included social services,
health and schools.

A new ministry for youth

Following the Gove Report, a transition
commissioner for child and youth services was
appointed to establish the new youth and
child-centred ministry. The new ministry would
integrate services and programs serving youth
and children. As part of the transition to the
new ministry, an integrated youth services
office opened as a pilot in the South District of
the Island Region in September 1996.

Staffing consisted of three social workers, two
probation officers, a district supervisor and
administrative staff. A full-time teacher was also
on-site. Space was available for alcohol and
drug, mental health, forensic and community
agencies,

In December 1996, while awaiting enactment of
the Youth Corrections Act to transfer youth
authority to the Ministry for Children and
Families (MCP), youth services were planned
using the Corrections Branch functional model.
In 1997—+the year that the Corrections Branch
reorganized—youth probation and containment
centres were transferred to the new Ministry.

The Era of Risk Management (1990-1997)

211