Saskatchewan. Dept. of Welfare

Identity area

Type of entity

Primary Agency

Authorized form of name

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Welfare

Parallel form(s) of name

Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules

Other form(s) of name

  • Department of Welfare

Identifiers for corporate bodies

Description area

Dates of existence

1965-1972

History

The Department of Welfare was established on May 1, 1965 and repealed The Department of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Act (S.S. 1949, c. 10). It provided for the department, its staff, departmental organization, powers and duties, and other miscellaneous provisions necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the department. At its establishment, the department was organized into eight branches: Staff Services; Public Assistance; Child Welfare; Housing and Special-care Homes; Corrections; Rehabilitation; Regional Services; and Emergency Welfare, along with the Bureau on Alcoholism. Programs and services were offered through a network of eleven regions in the province.

The Staff Services Branch provided administrative services for the department, including accounting, records management, procurement, legal services, human resources, research and planning.

The Public Assistance Branch provided programs to residents of the province who demonstrated financial need. Programs included social aid, aid to dependent families, old age assistance, disabled and blind persons' allowances, and deserted wives and children's assistance.

The protection and care of children in need was provided by the Child Welfare Branch. Programs offered included protection services, support to unmarried mothers, adoption services, foster care and institutional care for children not suitable for foster care.

The Housing and Special-care Homes Branch offered programs and residence for aged, needy and blind persons, as well as residence for low-income families throughout Saskatchewan.

The Corrections Branch administered correctional services to offenders through its three correctional centres, as well as rehabilitation, parole and probation services.

Vocational rehabilitation programs and services were offered to the province's disabled by the Rehabilitation Branch. The branch also administered academic and vocational training programs to Métis groups in the province.

The Regional Services Branch administered a network of ten regions that delivered public assistance, child welfare, vocational rehabilitation, corrections and geriatric programs and services throughout the province. Regional offices were located at Regina, Weyburn, Swift Current, Moose Jaw, Fort Qu'Appelle, Yorkton, Melfort, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, North Battleford and Meadow Lake.

The Emergency Welfare Services Branch oversaw programs and services that provided response and relief after natural and man-made disasters. The branch also made available mobile disaster assistance to other provinces and to the United States.

The Bureau on Alcoholism administered programs that offered education and treatment to persons afflicted with alcoholism. The Bureau also conducted research into alcoholism and its treatment. Responsibility for the Bureau was transferred to the Department of Public Health in November 1965.

In 1968, a major reorganization of the department took place, aimed at further decentralizing authority and responsibility of the department's programs and services. The department's internal administration was organized into five branches: Administration; Personnel; Staff Training; Information and Public Relations; and Research and Statistics. An Operations Division was established to deliver services offered by the department to residents of the province. The previous network of regional offices was maintained, with each lead by a regional director. As well, the province's correctional, child care, rehabilitation and geriatric centres were organized under the division. The Program Division was responsible for the assessment and modification of programs offered by the department. It consisted of a director and eight consultants specializing in program areas of the department.

The Department of Welfare was discontinued on May 12, 1972 with the establishment of the Department of Social Services.

Places

Legal status

Functions, occupations and activities

The Department of Welfare administered programs and services aimed at assisting disadvantaged residents of Saskatchewan through financial assistance, community resources, housing, special-care homes and emergency response.

Mandates/sources of authority

The Department of Welfare Act (R.S.S. 1965, c. 38)

Internal structures/genealogy

General context

Relationships area

Related entity

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Social Services (1972-2003)

Identifier of related entity

GA 125

Category of relationship

temporal

Type of relationship

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Social Services

is the successor of

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Welfare

Dates of relationship

1972-05-12

Description of relationship

Related entity

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation (1949-1965)

Identifier of related entity

GA 136

Category of relationship

temporal

Type of relationship

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation

is the predecessor of

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Welfare

Dates of relationship

1965-05-01

Description of relationship

Related entity

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Welfare. Institutions Branch (1968-1972)

Identifier of related entity

GA 141

Category of relationship

hierarchical

Type of relationship

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Welfare. Institutions Branch

is controlled by

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Welfare

Dates of relationship

1968-1972

Description of relationship

Related entity

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Welfare. Public Assistance Branch (1965-1968)

Identifier of related entity

GA 164

Category of relationship

hierarchical

Type of relationship

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Welfare. Public Assistance Branch

is controlled by

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Welfare

Dates of relationship

1965-1968

Description of relationship

Related entity

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Welfare. Child Welfare Branch (1965-1968)

Identifier of related entity

GA 155

Category of relationship

hierarchical

Type of relationship

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Welfare. Child Welfare Branch

is controlled by

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Welfare

Dates of relationship

1965-1968

Description of relationship

Related entity

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Welfare. Corrections Branch (1965-1968)

Identifier of related entity

GA 140

Category of relationship

hierarchical

Type of relationship

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Welfare. Corrections Branch

is controlled by

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Welfare

Dates of relationship

1965-1968

Description of relationship

Related entity

Saskatchewan. Vocational Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (VRDP) Program (1961-1998)

Identifier of related entity

GA 55

Category of relationship

hierarchical

Type of relationship

Saskatchewan. Vocational Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (VRDP) Program

is controlled by

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Welfare

Dates of relationship

1965-1973

Description of relationship

Access points area

Subject access points

Place access points

Occupations

Control area

Authority record identifier

GA 137

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Rules for Archival Description (RAD)

Status

Final

Level of detail

Full

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

2013-01-07 (Creation).
2013-04-10 (Approval).
2017-11-29 (Revision).

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

  • Latin

Sources

AMICUS Authorities - May 5, 1975.
Department of Welfare annual reports.

Maintenance notes

  • Clipboard

  • Export

  • EAC

Related subjects

Related places