Saskatchewan NDP raises concerns about infants placed in at-risk youth home

REGINA – Concerns are being raised about housing infants and toddlers at a home for troubled teens in Regina.

NDP Leader Cam Broten (BROH’-tin) questions why children as young as nine months old have been placed in Dale’s House, which is an at-risk youth facility.

Social Services Minister June Draude (DROW’-dee) told the legislature that children were taken to the home in an emergency for 48 hours and kept in a separate room.

Draude said there were trained social workers there.

One social worker, who doesn’t want to be named for fear of being fired, says Dale’s House isn’t set up for young children and youngsters were sleeping on cots or playpens in a classroom.

The social worker says staff members are stretched thin and it’s only because of their vigilance that younger children are kept from troubled youth.