While the province is asking for patience in the roll-out of the new grandparents and care providers program, many of those affected feel the help can’t come soon enough.
Cheryl Myers is one of many P.E.I. grandparents caring for a grandchild.
Myers, a single caregiver to her grandson since 2013, previously relied on working four jobs to help make ends meet for the two.
The stress and long hours took a toll on her health and Myers was unable to return to work in the restaurant industry this past year due to back pain, instead opting to try to start her own business from home.
Myers said she was relieved to hear about a new government program announced in November to help grandparents and other caregivers in her situation.
That relief has slowly grown into frustration, with Myers realizing the support would first go only to those with open Child Protection Services (CPS) cases.
“They’re saying it may be April now (before I’m in the program) so it’s frustrating and stressful because you don’t want your grandchild going without anything,” said Myers, who knows others in a similar situation. “They’re struggling in silence… a lot of them are doing it on their pensions and are doing it as single (parents).”
The program announced in November would provide $700 per month per child in financial assistance for grandparents and caregivers who are caring for children that are unable to live with their parents. The program also includes coverage for medication, as well as children’s dental and childcare coverage.
Family services minister Tina Mundy, commended grandparents and caregivers and said the program will soon be expanded to include support for all but also asked for patience.
She said the intention all along was to support the most vulnerable first and noted that she had referenced a phase one in the original announcement.
“I almost feel their fears were exploited and that’s hurtful because we will get to all of them, we’re going to assess each case as they come in,” said Mundy, adding that she has been advocating for the program since meeting with a number of grandparents and caregivers in Summerside in 2015.
Mundy said the main focus of the program is to keep families together and reduce trauma for the children who have been removed from their homes.
“The main focus of the program is keeping children safe and keeping the family unit together and intact as best as we can,” said Mundy. “The second step is providing financial support.”
While the second phase has been marked for April, which will include the hiring of new social workers, Mundy said she hopes to address cases before then and asked caregivers to reach out to the department to be identified.
“If we can get to those cases before April 1 we will,” said Mundy. “We are grateful to Islanders who have stepped up and have taken in these vulnerable children and given them a lovely home… please reach out and please have patience, it’s going to take some time and we will get to you.”
Jan King, an advocate for P.E.I. seniors, said while she does not doubt Mundy’s commitment to children she felt the original announcement was misleading.
King said while there were a number of hints in the announcement that it would first be available to certain caregivers, she felt it should have been made more clear.
“I don’t think (the province) has a very clear idea of where they’re going,” said King. “I’m not saying (Mundy) is not a caring person. What I’m saying is that the November announcement was terrifically misleading.”
Its’ not just grandparents who are hoping for a quick resolution to the program’s implementation.
Jessica Moore, whose family took in a niece shortly after birth, said she hopes the province can speed up the process for all caregivers.
She, like others, were also under the assumption the program would include everyone from the start of its implementation.
“I just feel it should have been accessible to everybody (from the start),” said Moore. “We’re the ones who put in the work, we’ve dedicated so much and now it feels like we’re not important.”
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