July/August: Sunshine League To Continue Care

July 3, 2011

logo sunshine[Updated] The Sunshine League today [July 3] announced that – at the request of the Bermuda Government – it has agreed to continue to provide a 24-hour residential facility to foster children throughout July and, if necessary, August 2011.

On June 21, the Sunshine League announced they would cease residential foster care effective July 1, 2011, due to the “excessively high costs of running a 24-hour residential foster care programme.” They said that 5 full-time staff will be made redundant and 13 part-time employees will be let go.

The day after Minister Glenn Blakeney held a press conference and said the Government has been working with Sunshine League, and they “still believe that a satisfactory resolution can be found which would allow this 16-bed facility to continue to meet the residential needs of foster care children.”

Today the Sunshine League said the Government aims to complete its operational review of The Sunshine League by July 31, 2011 and recommend a way forward to maintain the operation of a 24-hour residential facility at The Sunshine League premises.

A spokesperson said, “The Sunshine League will cover the operational cost out of their cash balance for the month of July and the Department of Child and Family Services [DCFS] will provide the remaining earmarked funds up to $75,000 to cover the operational costs of the home for the month of August.”

“Suitable alternative placements have been found by DCFS for each of the eight children who were living at The Sunshine League in late June. While the review was being undertaken, as always, the children’s interests and safety remain the primary consideration.”

“During the month of July and with the government provided finances in August, The Sunshine League Board and staff have offered to provide services to the foster children who have been moved out of The Sunshine League home to assist them emotionally with the transition and to ensure the continuity of care.”

“These services will be provided at both The Sunshine League and the foster home. Each child would be assigned a staff member who is familiar with the child to function as a home-based mentor. The mentor will meet with the child on a weekly basis to, for example, participate in community-based and home-based activities such as board games, movies, sports, cooking workshops, visiting the Aquarium and BUEI.

Zakiya Johnson, Interim President, The Sunshine League, says: “The Sunshine League, as previously stated, is transitioning out of 24-hour residential care, but would like to allow government extra time to make a decision about effectively running a 24-hour residential facility from our building.”

“We will continue to work closely with the government on their review and at the same time we look forward to progressing with our plan to meet with key donors and community stakeholders regarding the broader needs of foster children and how we can best meet these needs together.”

Families interested in learning more about foster care provisions can contact DCFS on 296-7575.

Update 7:55pm:Minister of Youth, Families and Sports Glenn Blakeney, today said that the Government is pleased that the Sunshine League has agreed to continue providing 24-hour care to foster children throughout July.

Minister Blakeney said, “The Government of Bermuda is committed to the children who are placed in the foster care system, and continues to work with the Board of The Sunshine League in an effort to use each of our respective strengths and resources towards supporting the needs of these children.”

“We will continue our operational review of The Sunshine League this month and would like to thank the Board of The Sunshine League for agreeing to run the facility for an additional two months while we review all options for continuing to run the home as a 24-hour residential care facility. Our actions are the response of a caring government concerned only for the safety, protection and stability of our children.”

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Comments (16)

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  1. Truth be Told says:

    Wow not a word from readers yet?….just goes to show you the mind set of those who make the most noise…..When the story was published that the SSL was ending residential foster care and mentioned the budget cut from government having some affect on the decision comments were flying, blaming government even though they were not. But as the story unfolds and it is clear that they have made this decision for various reasons, and that government has decided to not only found their residential care for a month, but to also find a means to carry it on everybodies quiet. SMH you watch and talk while this PLP government truly moves Bermuda forward.

    • PEPPER says:

      truth be told…it is an election ploy !!!!wake up…next they will be saying they are going to help the salvation army…. it is all election BS…..

      • BTW says:

        The Salvation Army has been receiving a government grant for decades. It started under the UBP government.

        • sandgrownan says:

          The Salavation Army grant was significantly cut under the caring PLP

          • The 411 says:

            The Salvation Army sits on a multi-million dollar endowment and frankly does not need the support of the government.

    • Hudson says:

      Firstly, people actually have to have time to read the article before commenting. Unlike you, I have a life, and do not spend my time trolling Bernews. I come on here to read the news and get a feeling by reading the comments about how some of the general populace are feeling.

      Secondly, keeping the facility open for a month or two longer is the right thing to do for those poor children who need the home, but I don’t think that the PLP government need some sort of congratulatory pat on the back for realising their mistake. Further, think of the stresses they are causing not only to the children in the care of the home, but to the staff who aren’t sure whether they will or won’t have a job in a month.

      PLP had reduced the funding to the League over the years through budget cuts to a mere $200k per annum, and again this year to $100k and you want me to applaud their decision to keep the doors open when they realised that the voters were p*$$ed?? You’re out in left field my friend.

      TBT, your blind praise and support of your government makes you look foolish. Holding people and the elected goverment accountable is important in a democratic society.

  2. sandgrownan says:

    Clearly good news, but what you have as a DIRECT RESULT OF THE PLP are budget cuts across a whole swath of public services and charitable causes.

    Just because they’ve clearly taken their heads out of their collective *sses in this case, it doesn’t mean that Bermuda is “truly moving forward”.

  3. Truth be Told says:

    I am wide awake and know for a fact it has nothing to do with an election..Don’t know where you get your info but when it comes to the PLP you can be sure I know what’s going on. So save your lil statements for fools you have a better chance of convincing them.

  4. It is what it is says:

    @ Truth be Told..perhaps you should give everyone a chance to log on and read before you post such a bold statement….”But as the story unfolds and it is clear that they have made this decision for various reasons, and that government has decided to not only found their residential care for a month, but to also find a means to carry it on everybodies quiet” Everyone is not quiet!! it is sad that it has come to this..also glad that Government has decided to step in and FUND the SSL for a month..glad to know that my portion of tax payers money will be put to good use instaed of Funding 1st class travel and 5 star hotels…

  5. Danielle says:

    How is it that $75,000 came from DCFS and DCFS has serious budget issues of their own!!!??? Truth be told perhaps you have the answer to my question as you know what’s going on with this Government.

  6. Truth be Told says:

    I really don’t go back and forth with irrational people…but just to put forth a obvious answer to your simple question….The DCFS has the means for extreme situations the budget issues are the result of necessary cuts. This is a hard time in Bermuda as it is across the world, regardless if funds have been “missed managed” we have to climb up.

    The PLP have fulfilled a great deal of their platform and yes at a cost to the public purse but it has all been necessary. Stop trying to paint two different pictures for the same story. One hand you clam that government isn’t doing anything for the people but then imply that they gave away things at cost to the tax payer which is why we are in debt and throw in the cost of over runs and feel you hit a home run.

    Well it seems that every financial authority that rates Bermuda gives it a high rating on every level. Its so easy to sit back and judge the situation , but truth be told those that are doing the job perform as individuals in any job, differently…so all that stereo typing of PLP and blah blah is nothing to me. You state assumptions I state facts. Wake up the world is in a recession not just Bermuda. Or do you think Bermuda was the most perfect world and would be the only place in the world that didn’t feel the hit?

    • sandgrownan says:

      Bermuda’s debt is a direct result of poor controls (by Cog) and rampant overspending. Do not try t blame “global recession” because they can’t keep their hands out of the cookie jar.

    • Rick Rock says:

      Bermuda was always going to ‘feel the hit’ of the recession, as you put it. What upsets a lot of people is the fact, prior to the recession, the plp ignored warnings that a recession was around the corner (“you don’t understand, we’re different”. You’re making mischief”), and the plp increased the debt from $160m to over $1bn in 4 years. Hence the current crisis in government finances that leads to cutting back the Sunshine League and other social and infrastructure programs.

  7. Phillip Citizen Johnson says:

    @ Truth be Told… what the hell are you talking about? It was the Government reducing its measly $200 000 a year to $100 000 to the Sunshine League that precipitated the problem! I can’t be sure (because the information is unavailable) but I will bet my life the amount saved by revoking Government Credit Cards would allow us to triple the amount given to Sunshine League instead of halving it! You want a pat on the back for fixing one tire after deflating all four? In case you haven’t noticed, Bermuda has been steadily moving backwards on all levels for the last decade or so. How can you be so blind? Each and every ‘consultant’ has made off with far more money with nothing to show for it….. why is it so hard for you to hold your Government accountable?

  8. Pastor Syl says:

    Just looking at this Government’s priorities.

    Sounds to me like Sunshine League is tired of being jerked around by this government, and I don’t blame them.

    They cut Sunshine League’s budget downs to $100K?!? To feed and house 8 children??? It costs $85K to feed and house one prisoner, (according to one chart I read a while back so don’t quote me) and I don’t believe the prisons budget was cut. So they’d rather feed and house prisoners than support services that could possibly keep children from becoming prisoners. Where’s the priority?

    Every social service, every service dealing with children and the vulnerable has been cut. Yet they pay a consultant more than $100K. Premier Cox still hasn’t cut Senate and Parliamentarian salaries. Where’s the priority?

    At last report, there were twice as many administrative staff as teachers in the Department of Education, yet they fire teachers and keep the administrative staff. Where’s the priority?

    I am not impressed.