Compliance Reports Reveal Staffing Shortages and Care Failures in Newfoundland and Labrador Group Homes
Provincial compliance reports from 2023 to 2025 detail extreme staffing shortages, training lapses, and quality-of-care issues in Newfoundland and Labrador's residential child and youth care system, even as annual spending on placements nears $112.5 million.
Annual compliance reports obtained by CBC News detailing performance reviews of residential care providers in Newfoundland and Labrador from 2023 through 2025 reveal significant staffing shortages, training lapses, and quality-of-care issues within the province's child and youth care system.
The documents outline instances of staff working extreme shifts due to shortages. At one organization, workers reported completing 24-hour and 36-hour shifts, with one staff member working a 60-hour shift. These extended hours have contributed to staff burnout, stress, and high turnover across the sector.
Training deficiencies were also highlighted in the reports. A lack of training at one service provider led to inappropriate discipline, multiple referrals, and investigations involving physical maltreatment. In another case, an investigation was launched at an emergency placement home in the St. John's metro area after a young child began losing weight due to gaps in staff knowledge related to child development.
Supervision failures were documented at one operator, where concerns included inadequate supervision, staff using cell phones while on shift, staff sleeping while on duty, and staff using alcohol. These inconsistent staffing conditions and poor environments have resulted in trauma and instability for children in the system.
As of March, there were 225 children and youth living in group homes, independent living arrangements (ILAs), and emergency placement homes across Newfoundland and Labrador. Vaden Johnson, now 20, entered care at age 15 and experienced various residential placements, including group homes and ILAs.
Despite these systemic challenges, some operators received praise in the reports for exceptional commitment and community-building efforts. Industry leaders acknowledge the strain placed on workers but highlight improvements over recent years. Gordon Hawkins serves as the president of the Child and Youth Care Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (CYCA NL). Heather Modlin is the CEO of Amal Youth and Family Centre and a member of CYCA NL.
The financial burden of residential care on the province has grown substantially. In the last fiscal year, Newfoundland and Labrador paid nearly $112.5 million to residential placement providers, an amount that has nearly doubled over the past seven years.
Social Supports and Well-Being Minister Chris Tibbs declined an interview request regarding the findings. The Department of Social Supports and Well-Being attributes some of the difficulties facing the system to an increase in children with complex needs requiring specialized care.