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_ Terrace Review — Wednesday, April 13, 1988 19

of our futur ure. |

An important message from Premier Bill Vander Zalm:

As your Premier, lam deeply
committed to building the best
possible future for the people
of British Columbia. | am com-
mitted to leading a Government

~ that assists British Columbians
_in building stronger families.

That's why | have committed
your Government to provide
British Columbians with the

~ factual information and support ”
theyneedtomake informed —
~ decisions. That's why, over the

past year, we have been work-
ing to develop a number of
supportive programs that we

_ are now putting into place.

Pregnancy
Support Services

In cooperation with health

| ‘professionals in British Colum- .

bia, we will be providing new

~ services and sources of infor-

mation on:

_ O howand where a woman

facing an unexpected
pregnancy can obtain
increased assistance and
new information.

1 shelter arrangements that

provide assistance to
pregnant women who
require such support,

. OU the alternative of adoption.

Improved

Day Care
‘Inorder to make Day Care —
more accessible and affordable,

_. Day Care Services in British

Columbia will be substantially

will be increased day care

_ subsidies for infants up to

18 months..

Review of

Govemment
Policies and Programs
to Strengthen the

Family

We are committed to
exploring all levels of Govern-
ment, to find ways that will en-
sure that programs and policies
directly benefit and strengthen
families in British Columbia.

4 Adoption
Review

The Government will be re-
viewing the current Adoption ©

Act with a view towards finding
~’ better ways of meeting the

needs of children as well as
both natural and adoptive
parents.

Intended revisions will
include:

CJ Changes to allow increased
openness in adoption.

LC] Improved flexibility in the
adoption process.

We will also be providing
new information on adoption
of older children and children. -
with special needs; helping in
the recruitment of permanent
families for them, and providing
counselling and training for

_ those considering adoption of
an older or a special-needs child.

In addition, there will be new
information on the Associate -
Family Program of the Ministry
of Health, providing parents of
special-needs children with the

_ Opportunity to build the

strongest families possible.

Enforcement of
Family Support

7 Payments

The Ministry of Attorney
General has introduced new

legislation which will better en-

able the Government to enforce
maintenance orders and ensure

‘that parents and their children

receive the support payments

. they're entitled to.

This program will be available
later this year to parents who
wish to register for assistance.

Marriage
Preparation
As the beginning of alifelong

commitment, marriage is
important to building strong
families. For people who are
getting married, anew Mar-__.
riage Preparation program will
help provide the communica-
tion skills that build strong and
lasting relationships. A public

information package wiill be dis-

tributed along with marriage
license applications.

In addition, the Government
supports a Marriage
Preparation Resource Manual
available through the B.C.
Council for the Family.

Public Information
Package
Women facing

an.unexpected
Pregany | pregnancy can
services obtain assistance

Gude | and information
through a new
Pregnancy Support
Services Resource
act ==. | Guide now availa-
ble to doctors and
other health professionals.
Doctors, Pharmacists and
Health Units throughout the
province will also offer a
pamphlet which provides
information on deciding what
to do when faced with an

_ Families are ‘the strength of our future.

BCE

Government of British Columbia

unexpected pregnancy.

In addition, a video on
making decisions and exploring
options will soon be distributed
to video outlets, libraries and
Health Units throughout the
province. It will be offered free
of charge, with no duplication
restrictions.

Three new pamphlets that
provide information on preg-
nancy prevention are available

~ through your doctor, your phar-

macistand at your local Health
Unit. In addition a responsible
and comprehensive new Family
Life Education Program is al-
ready operating successfully for
grades 7 to 12 throughout the
province. : :

Complete and comprehen- |

_Sive information about these

new initiatives will be available
at Health Units and Ministry of
Social Services and Housing
offices listed in the Blue Pages
of your telephone directory.

Honourable Bill Vander Zalm
-Premier of British Columbia