DRUG TESTING FOR WELFARE SOFTENS EDGES

Focuses On Self-Esteem

It was a first for Canada and one of the Ontario government's most
contentious policies -- forcing welfare recipients to submit to drug
testing and treatment, or be cut off benefits.

But as the program finally takes shape in a few small communities, the
mandatory nature has been unofficially replaced by a more touchy-feely,
almost voluntary approach.

One office is even buying a welfare recipient fishing tackle to revive an
old passion and help him overcome his alcoholism. Another is offering to
pay for "self-esteem" items such as glasses and dental work.

Many addicted claimants have come forward on their own and are reportedly
embracing the idea.

"We're not promoting the potential hard edge of the program," said Rick
Williams, social services director for Prince Edward and Lennox and
Addington Counties, an eastern Ontario municipality. "Basically, we wanted
to build from those most willing, and see how far that took us."

Mr. Williams' welfare office has seen more than 40 welfare recipients
submit themselves to treatment ranging from AA meetings to residential
recovery clinics -- about 5% of the total caseload.

While most are alcoholics, a handful are addicted to heroin and other hard
drugs, he said.

If at some point caseworkers identify clients who have problems, but are
reluctant to get help, "I guess we'll have to move to a more animated
conversation," Mr. Williams said.

It is a far cry from the birth of the program, one of the most dramatic in
a string of hard-nosed welfare reforms brought in by the Mike Harris
Conservatives. At an inaugural press conference, John Baird, then social
services minister, talked of recipients "shooting their welfare cheques up
their arms" and brandished handfulls of syringes to illustrate his point.

He repeatedly underlined that the program would be mandatory, like
work-for-welfare and other aspects of the social assistance system
overhauled by the Tories.

Treatment agencies, including the government-funded Centre for Addication
and Mental Health, blasted the policy as counter-productive and an attack
on the poor. Other critics called it an assault on human rights and
threatened constitutional challenges.

The program is still mandatory, said Christine Bujold, a spokeswoman for
Brenda Elliott, the current Minister. But details of the more
sensitive-sounding program now being implemented were devised after the
ministry conslulted with 600 experts, addicts and others, she said.

"We took our lead from them."

Four small pilot projects are running now in eastern Ontario, Parry Sound,
Thunder Bay and Algoma. The whole province is expected to become part of
the program by 2005, she said.

In eastern Ontario, Mr. Williams said his office mailed recipients a
brochure touting the benefits of the program, then waited for volunteers.

Those who come forward have been helped with cab fare and mileage money to
get to treatment, and child care costs. They will also be provided with
"substitute activities" such as yoga and stress-management classes to help
in the drying-out process. That includes the man who had abandoned his
angling hobby as he took up the bottle.

"We're getting him fishing equipment. That is an area he is going to focus
on in order to have a hobby or an interest outside of addiction," Mr.
Williams said.

At the Algoma Region welfare department in Northern Ontario, officials have
been more active in getting claimants into treatment. Case workers have
referred 17 recipients -- about 5% of the caseload -- whom they felt had
addiction problems to an in-house specialist, with many progressing on to
treatment.

"There are times when they don't feel good about themselves and raising
self-esteem could assist in the treatment process, because it can be a very
painful and difficult process," said Tracey Brick, who oversees social
assistance in the region.

The program in Parry Sound has been up and running only since June 10.
Already, 10 people have volunteered for treatment, said Rita Clasen, acting
head of social services for the community.