CEO Message Re: Wildfire Emergency Response
Good afternoon,
Today, I would like to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the General Child and Family Services Authority (GA), to those of you who took part in the emergency response to the Manitoba wildfire situation this past summer.
As I’m sure you’re aware, these fires were an unprecedented event in our province, with more than 500,000 hectares burned and 17,000 people evacuated from their homes to various emergency centres in southern Manitoba.
Our authority was called on by the Department of Families to provide the lead for the Wildfire Evacuee Mobile Differential Response (DR) Team at the evacuation site in Portage la Prairie.
The team was led by the GA, CFS of Central Manitoba and CFS of Western Manitoba, who came together to develop a two-week, 24-hour schedule on very short notice. In about four days, the DR team was up and running – remarkable work by all those involved.
The DR approach to working with families living in congregate sites was fashioned after mobile DR teams that were operating at various emergency sites in Winnipeg.
Differential response was used to provide active offers of support to individuals and families temporarily relocated due to fires. The teams used their knowledge as social service professionals to assist individuals during stressful situations and to minimize trauma experienced while displaced from their home communities. This led to success in supporting individuals and families and preventing children/youth from coming into care in both Winnipeg and Portage la Prairie sites.
I would like to congratulate all of the staff and supervisors from the GA, CFS of Central Manitoba and CFS of Western Manitoba who assisted with the DR teams, along with those from Rural and Northern CFS and Winnipeg CFS who supported evacuees at sites in Winnipeg. Some of the feedback I’ve heard included how smoothly this response went, which is extraordinary considering how quickly it had to come together. I would also like to thank Long Plain First Nation, who took the lead at the Portage la Prairie site in terms of assisting with the physical setup, including food, bedding and other items.
Again, I would like to express my gratitude to those of you who were part of this emergency response. This is exceptional work for which we should all be appreciative.
Best Regards,
Jay Rodgers
CEO, General Child and Family Services Authority