Manitoba's foster care system needs overhaul, says social worker

The largenumber of children in care of Child and Family Services in Manitoba doesn't come as a surprise to one social worker.

CharleneGladusaidthe numbers are so high because social workers are more likely to apprehend children than work with families.

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On Wednesday, the annual report from the province's family services department was released, showing 10,293 kids were in foster homes, group homes and emergency shelters as of March 31.That's about 300more than last year.

Almost 90 per cent of all children in care are aboriginal, the report states.

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Gladu saidit's time to get to the root of the problem.

"We can't throw blankets over this issue. We can't put Band-Aidsover this issue," she said.

"It's time, and we have an opportunity right now to really look at this system and say, 'OK, what do we need to do here?'"

More work should be done with the families before it comes to apprehension of the kids, she said, adding thatonce someone's name is in the system, they're more likely to lose their children.