Department_of_Children,_Seniors_and_Social_Development_(Newfoundland_and_Labrador)
The Ministry of Children, Seniors and Social Development is a provincial government department in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The department is headed by a member of the provincial cabinet, typically a Member of the House of Assembly, who is chosen by the premier and formally appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The department's creation was announced in April 2009, by the government of Danny Williams.[1] Before becoming a stand-alone department many aspects of the department were a branch within the Department of Health and Community Services.
Child and Youth Services is responsible for: child protection services, foster care, adoption, kinship, youth services, and youth corrections programs.[2] The department is also responsible for the disability policy office, adult protection, and seniors advocacy.
The department was reconfigured as the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development in 2016.[3]
In a report released in November 2016, NL Auditor General Terry Paddon said 6,252 children — eight percent of the children in Newfoundland and Labrador — were being served by CSSD (Child and Youth Services) programs.[4]
In 2021, the income support division of Immigration, Skills and Labour was relocated into CSSD.
On June 14, 2023, Paul Pike was appointed Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development.[5]