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ON
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H
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
+THE CENTRAL PLANNING UNIT WILL PROVIDE THE NECESSARY STIMULUS TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO EXPAND IN THESE AREAS, AND A TERRITORY-WIDE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE THE FOSTER CARE SERVICE IS PLANNED FOR THE NEAR FUTURE.
+THE UNIT WILL ALSO DETERMINE THE BEST STRATEGY FOR RECRUITING FOSTER PARENTS AND WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REGISTERING POTENTIAL FOSTER PARENTS AND FOR ASSESSING THEIR SUITABILITY.
+THOSE FOUND SUITABLE WILL BE REFERRED TO APPROPRIATE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES FOR MATCHING WITH CHILDREN, HE SAID, MR CHAMBERS ASSURED MISS BENNETT THAT THE CHILD'S SOCIAL BACKGROUND AND ENVIRONMENT WOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED, SO AS TO ENSURE COMPATIBILITY WITH THE FOSTER PARENTS.
+IF ALL GOES WELL, WE EXPECT IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PLACES IN FOSTER HOMES FROM 45 TO 160, AND IN SMALL GROUP HOMES FROM 8 TO 72.
+THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL PLACES IN ORDINARY HOMES WILL ALSO BE INCREASED FROM 1 171 TO 1 238, AND I SHALL CONSIDER THE PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL HOSTEL PLACES FOR THE OLDER AGE GROUP IF THIS APPEARS TO BE NECESSARY,+ HE SAID.
MR CHAMBERS ALLAYED CONCERN ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT CHILDREN COMMITTED TO HIS CARE UNDER THIS BILL MIGHT BE PLACED IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
+SUCH PLACEMENTS WOULD BE QUITE INAPPROPRIATE SINCE THE CHILDREN OF BROKEN MARRIAGES ARE IN A QUITE DIFFERENT SITUATION FROM THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO A PERIOD OF STAY IN A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION. I WISH THEREFORE TO STRESS THAT I HAVE NO INTENTION OF RESORTING TO THE USE OF SUCH FACILITIES. IN THE CASE OF CHILDREN ENTRUSTED TO MY CARE UNDER THIS BILL, HE SAID.
THE DEGREE OF CARE AND SUPERVISION REQUIRED WOULD VARY IN EACH CASE, HE SAID. AS THIS WAS A NEW COMMITMENT, IT WAS DIFFICULT AT THIS STAGE TO PREDICT HOW MANY SUCH CASES WOULD ARISE AND THEIR AGE RANGE BUT HE DID NOT EXPECT THE NUMBER TO BE LARGE.
+GIVEN PRESENT PLANS TO EXPAND BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND NON- INSTITUTIONAL CARE SERVICES, I DO NOT EXPECT ANY INSURMOUNTABLE DIFFICULTIES IN PROVIDING ADEQUATE CARE AND SUPERVISION, HE SAID.
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