Focus on parents, child services minister told

Newfoundland and Labrador's new minister of child, youth and family services should put a priority on helping parents whose children have been put in care, a lawyer says.

Charlene Johnson was appointed as minister of the fledgling department in Thursday's cabinet shuffle. Johnson replaces Joan Burke, who became the first minister in the portfolio in April 2009.

Brian Wentzell, a St. John's lawyer who has had frequent involvement in child protection issues, said the new department is missing a focus on parents whose children have been taken from them, and who often need help themselves.

"My advice for the new minister would be to put some effort into that aspect of the thing, so we can get these parents' problems resolved and get the children back into their home safely, quicker," Wentzell told CBC News.

Wentzell said programs for parents need to be better co-ordinated and wait times reduced.