BURNABY, B.C. - Ten groups in B.C. are receiving $2 million in provincial-government funding so they can help children and youth without families find permanent homes.
Children's Minister Stephanie Cadieux says there are more than 1,000 children in B.C. looking for homes and about 400 prospective parents.
Her ministry says the money will help workers write more home studies, which social workers use to assess the strengths and parenting abilities of prospective adoptive families and guardians.
It will also help the groups write plans to identify, recruit and prepare prospective adoptive families, while taking culture, ethnicity and religion into account.
Children's representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond says the money is a positive sign, and more must be done to clear the backlog and find permanent homes for children in care.
The ministry currently has plans to place 300 children and youth in adoptive homes by March 31, 2015 and about 150 into permanent guardianship.
