Newfoundland and Labrador

For more information, please see the information sheet on Newfoundland and Labrador's child welfare system.

Overview

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development (CSSD) (previously known as the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services (CYFS)) is responsible for providing child welfare and protection services to all children and youth living in Newfoundland and Labrador, including First Nations, Inuit, and Metis populations through 37 offices over the province. The Children, Youth, and Families Act (CYFA) (2018) governs child welfare, protection, and service delivery. The CYFA came into force on June 28, 2019, and replaced the previous Child and Youth Care and Protection Act (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, 2020). Service provision to children and youth in need of protection is also guided by the Protection and In Care Policy and Procedure Manual (Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, 2011). The Adoption Act (2013) and the Adoptions Policy and Procedures Manual (2014) guide adoption practices for children in the province. 

Statistics
Newfoundland and Labrador: Children and youth in out-of-home care in 20221
Children in out-of-home careChild (0-15) populationRate per 1000
1,495106, 83613.99

Child welfare services fall under the jurisdiction of provincial and territorial authorities, making it difficult to compile statistics at the national level.

The most notable variations between provinces include, mandate variation by jurisdiction with respect to the age to which children are eligible for service, differences in the length of time a child can receive out-of-home care and the definition of out-of-home care.

References

1 Pollock, N., Ouédraogo, A., Trocmé, N., Hovdestad, W., Miskie, A., Crompton, L., Campeau, A., Tanaka, M., Zhang, C., Laprise, C., Tonmyr, L. (2024). Original quantitative research – Rates of out-of-home care among children in Canada: an analysis of national administrative child welfare data. Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada (44)4. https://doi.org/10.24095/hpcdp.44.4.02.

Publications
Filter by Publication Date Range
Title Year
A tragedy waiting to happen
The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate Newfoundland and Labrador
 2015
Program Statistics - Child Protection and In-care
The Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, Newfoundland and Labrador
 2014
Annual Report 2013-2014
The Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, Newfoundland and Labrador
 2014
Sixteen
Advocate for Children and Youth
 2013
2011-2012 Annual Report: The Advocate for Children and Youth Newfoundland and Labrador
The Advocate for Children and Youth, Newfoundland and Labrador
 2012
Failures in Children’s Protection in Newfoundland and Labrador: From the Hughes (1991) to Markesteyn and Day (2006) Inquiries and Beyond
Devine, Mike; Kimberley, Dennis;
 2012
Protection and In Care - Policy and Procedure Manual
Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, Newfoundland and Labrador
 2011
Newfoundland and Labrador Child, Youth and Family Services Annual Report 2010-2011
Child, Youth and Family Services
 2011
Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Strategic Plan 2010-2014
Department of Child, Youth and Family Services
 2010
Newfoundland and Labrador Children and Youth Care and Protection Act
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
 2010
Legislation
Links