Saskatoon parents worried about cuts to Youth Companionship Program

A Saskatoon program that matches disabled students with caregivers is being cut by the provincial government.

The Youth Companion Program finds full-time workers to look after school students with disabilities over the summer.

The service is important to families because it provides access to full-time workers for children that would normally be looked after at school.

The program screens and recruits applicants, does a criminal record check and makes sure the workers have first aid training.

Parents say it's difficult to find care workers on their own over the summer, especially for older children.

"I'm at loose ends," said Samantha Neill, a parent with a 19-year-old son in the program. "Putting ads on kijiji, putting ads at the university, that hasn't been successful in the past. I've had to put pleas on my Facebook status, asking people if they know anybody."

Neill said her son can't be left on his own during the day. Right now, she plans on relying on family members and working from home during the summer. However, she says many other families aren't that lucky.

"I don't think there was ill intent," she said. "I don't think there was enough research done into what the program actually does to recognize that it is unique in terms of what it offers and the group that it offers services to."

Garry Prediger, executive director of Child and Family Community Services, said the program was cut after a spending review of the Ministry of Social Services.

He said the program is currently paid for by an agency that doesn't match its mandate.

"It's being funded through the Child and Family Protective Services program, which is a child protection program, a child protection service, and the families and the young folks that were being served were not involved with our service."

The provincial government spends $64,000 on the Youth Companion Program. It is scheduled to close by the end of June.