A growing number of calls overwhelms the social workers tasked with protecting vulnerable children in New Brunswick. The union representing these workers states the available resources simply do not match the demand. According to a recent report from CBC News, the system meant to protect at risk children falls short daily.

CUPE 1418 president Shawna Morton represents provincial social workers. She states clearly that New Brunswick is failing its most vulnerable residents. Union leaders recently gathered in Fredericton to highlight severe gaps in the government systems that children and seniors rely on for survival. When you look at the state of care in New Brunswick, you see a system stretched beyond its limits.

The Ripple Effect of a Tragedy

Social workers report a massive spike in referrals following a tragic report from Child and Youth Advocate Kelly Lamrock. The report detailed the death of a sixteen year old boy, referred to as Bobby. The teen, formerly in government care, died while homeless and addicted to fentanyl. Before his death, the Department of Social Development received over a dozen calls from concerned family, friends, and police. Social workers screened out these calls and decided not to intervene.

Now, the fear of repeating this tragedy haunts the department. Morton notes that referrals are through the roof. Workers now question whether they can safely screen out any calls, knowing another child will slip through the cracks without intervention.

A Desperate Need for Resources

The emotional toll on social workers is heavy. They feel the blame when critical incidents occur, but Morton emphasizes the need to learn from these lost lives. She demands the province conduct a workforce study to determine exactly how many social workers New Brunswick needs. The government has not completed this type of study since the 1990s.

Morton also wants decision makers to understand the harsh reality on the ground. She describes sitting in an office at 3 a.m., desperately calling foster parents to find a bed for a child. She recalls a young child looking at her and asking, “Does nobody want me?” Morton calls this the direct impact of a neglected system.

Seniors Face Similar Dangers

The crisis extends beyond child welfare. A week after the report on Bobby, Lamrock released another report detailing the death of a senior with dementia, referred to as Alice. Alice spent a year waiting for a nursing home bed while living in a special care home ill equipped to keep her safe. She wandered away from the facility multiple times before her death.

Sharon Teare, president of the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions, says Alice’s situation is not unique. However, the exact number of seniors trapped in this dangerous waiting period remains unknown. Teare demands the province release data showing how many people Social Development has assessed for nursing home care who are currently waiting in special care homes. She also wants to know how long they wait and how many incidents occur during that time. With nearly 500 long term care groups under Social Development and only 81 operating as nursing homes, the bottleneck leaves vulnerable seniors at severe risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are social workers in New Brunswick receiving more calls?

Referrals spiked after a report detailed the death of a sixteen year old former youth in care. Social workers are now hesitant to screen out calls to prevent another tragedy.

What is the union asking the government to do?

CUPE 1418 wants the province to conduct a workforce study to determine the actual number of social workers needed. The last study happened in the 1990s.

How are seniors affected by these system failures?

Seniors assessed for nursing home care often wait in special care homes that lack the resources to keep them safe. This lack of resources leads to tragic incidents, including the death of a senior with dementia who wandered away from her facility.