Newfoundland and Labrador

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

Statistics

Newfoundland and Labrador - Statistics

Newfoundland and Labrador: Children and youth in out-of-home care in 2022^

Children in care Child (0-15) population Rate per 1000*
895 73,360 12.20

Of the 895 children and youth in care as of March 31, 2022, 300 are Indigenous.

 

^Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. (2022). Seniors and Social Development Department of Children, Program Statistics - Child Protection and In-Care. https://www.gov.nl.ca/cssd/files/OPE-Stats-Q4-Mar-31-2022-Protection-and-In-Care.pdf

*The rate per 1000 is calculated using the population of children covered under the age of protection in Newfoundland and Labrador (under 16 years old).

§ 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 services, differences in the length of time a child can receive out-of-home care and the definition of out-of-home care.

Reports
Title Authors Year
Annual Report 2019/20

Children, Seniors and Social Development Newfoundland and Labrador

Seen But Not Heard

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate Newfoundland and Labrador

A Long Wait for Change: Independent Review of Child Protection Services to Inuit Children in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate Newfoundland and Labrador

The case for culturally responsive services

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate Newfoundland and Labrador

The case for specialized health care representatives to recognize and prevent child sexual abuse

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate Newfoundland and Labrador

A stolen life

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate Newfoundland and Labrador

Innu Prevention Approach: Presented to the Innu Round Table Secretariat

Child Welfare League of Canada

Not there yet: Status report on recommendations

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate Newfoundland and Labrador

Provincial/Territorial Protocol On Children, Youth and Families Moving Between Provinces and Territories

Government of British Columbia
Government of Alberta
Government of Manitoba
Government of Saskatchewan
Government of New Brunswick
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Government of Nova Scotia
Government of Prince Edward Island
Government of Northwest Territories
Government of Nunavut
Government of Yukon
Government of Ontario

A tragedy waiting to happen

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate Newfoundland and Labrador

Annual Report 2013-2014

The Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, Newfoundland and Labrador

Program Statistics - Child Protection and In-care

The Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, Newfoundland and Labrador

Sixteen

Advocate for Children and Youth

2011-2012 Annual Report

The Advocate for Children and Youth Newfoundland and Labrador

Child, Youth and Family Services Annual Report 2010-2011

Child, Youth and Family Services