The Manitoba Government is terminating its agreement with a Brandon company to provide housing for youth in care, saying a third-party report led to an investigation that discovered "significant" financial deficiencies.
Brightscape Endeavours' agreement will end on June 18, according to a Manitoba Families spokesperson in an email to the Sun. The children in the case of the company will be transitioned elsewhere by the time the deadline arrives.
A report by the CBC said that the organization has 27 youth in care at 14 homes in the Brandon area.
"The results found significant deficiencies in the company’s financial management and accounting policy and procedures," the Manitoba Families spokesperson said in the email. "These findings are contrary to the Province’s responsibility to ensure that service providers demonstrate financial stability and sustainability."
However, the email also stressed that the decision was not made due to any allegation of abuse or mistreatment and that the department believes that all children in Brightscape's care have been and will continue to be treated appropriately.
As part of transitioning the kids to new homes, the province and the provincial Child and Family Services Authority have established a technical team to help individual CFS agencies develop individualized plans for the children affected.
The long notice period for the termination of the agreement is to help the youth in care and staff time to prepare for the changes. The government spokesperson also said the goal is to keep as many of the staff employed within the area as the sector is always recruiting.
The Sun has reached out to Brightscape CEO Jesse Dourado for comment.
» The Brandon Sun