N.B. Legislature Continues Hearings into Failures of Youth Social Services

Hearings are underway at New Brunswick's legislature to scrutinize systemic failures within the Social Development Department, focusing on youth social services. Three social services organizations are scheduled to appear before the social policy committee.

These hearings were prompted by a provincial advocate's report in May, which attributed the overdose death of a 16-year-old to departmental shortcomings. The advocate, Kelly Lamrock, testified that lawmakers should grant frontline social workers greater authority to make decisions prioritizing vulnerable youth, moving beyond strict adherence to procedures.

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lawmakers should empower frontline social workers to make decisions in the best interests of vulnerable youth, rather than strictly follow procedures.

Lamrock emphasized that the department must be held accountable for implementing these and other recommended changes. Daniel Mills, deputy minister at the Social Development Department, stated during Wednesday's hearing that he could not explain why the teenager did not receive more assistance from the province despite existing warnings.

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he couldn’t explain why the teenager didn’t receive more help from the province despite warnings.