Foster care at the Sunshine League could still be saved, despite its announcement that high costs are forcing it to phase out residential care.Saying he had been “surprised and disappointed” by the news, Youth Minister Glenn Blakeney yesterday said Government had been in talks with the Sunshine League regarding its “intent to abandon 24-hour residential foster care”.Mr Blakeney said the charity’s announcement on Tuesday had not mentioned any of these discussions with his Ministry. He also questioned some of the its financial disclosure.Meanwhile, the Shadow Minister for Seniors and Social Service Louise Jackson criticised Mr Blakeney for “suggesting the Sunshine League was somehow at fault”.And the Sunshine League itself responded last night by saying that it had informed Government of its dilemma as early as February, although Mr Blakeney argued the charity had provided insufficient information. If the charity goes ahead with dropping its residential foster care, eight children will have to be reassigned homes by the end of the month, through the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS).Mr Blakeney said this would stretch the Department’s resources and that, as yet, the Sunshine League had held no “formal discussions” with DCFS on how it planned to transition its services to the Island’s wider foster care community.According to DCFS director Alfred Maybury, the children’s ages vary from 12 to 17. Other social workers have expressed concern that it is difficult for children over the age of 12 to be assigned foster carers, especially on such short notice.However, Sunshine League interim president Zakiya Johnson last night said that the organisation had determined at the start of this year that its existing model was “currently not sustainable by a charity organisation”.Ms Johnson continued: “In order that we continue to be fiscally responsible with our funds and that the charity does not go bankrupt, on February 23, 2011 we suggested to the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) that they take over the residential operations of The Sunshine League facility.“In the same letter, we formally advised them that the alternative is that we would cease operating as a 24-hour residential facility on July 1, 2011.“Discussions continued over the last four months and we have been waiting for DCFS to advise us of their plan for the children and their timeline for implementation.“Last week we were made aware that DCFS would begin meeting with the children of The Sunshine League this week to advise them of the transition from the home. So, we had no other option but to inform our staff, our donors and the public who have supported us over the years.”Ms Johnson added: “We have given our most current unaudited financial statements to the government.”She said the charity remains committed to assisting DCFS and social workers with the transition of the children currently in residence.Mr Blakeney responded in a statement last night: “It is very clear that discussions have been held with the Sunshine League over the past several months.“Initially, discussions took place between the Department of Child and Family Services and the Sunshine League to determine whether the operational cost to the League could be reduced if Ministry through the Department of Child and Family Services offered to forego any cost associated with staff training in certain areas.“There was also agreement that the former Sunshine League executive director, now programme manager at the Department’s Residential Treatment Services, assist with the operations of the League on a part-time basis to ensure programme consistency until a new executive director could be hired.“Subsequently, the Ministry itself held several meetings with the Sunshine League. As Minister, I participated directly in one of these meetings.“It is true that the Sunshine League has presented Government with certain financial information in the form of unaudited financial statements. But this information is insufficient. In order to be able to conduct and conclude a proper review, information on the League’s current cash balances is required.“Before holding a press conference on Wednesday, June 22, we confirmed with the Management Consulting Section within Government that the Sunshine League had still not provided the necessary financial information.“It is a simple request that the League seems unwilling to comply with. Yet the League is on record as proposing that Government take over full responsibility for the League’s residential foster care operations.“Moreover, Government has continued to financially support the Sunshine League in spite of its declared intent to close its residential foster care operations, as we had hoped (and still hope) that a way forward can be found to allow the Sunshine League to continue to operate as a residential foster care facility.“As only one quarter of its annual grant to the Sunshine League has been paid to date, Government would be quite prepared to advance the balance of the grant at this time, if it would help to continue the foster care operation while a more permanent solution is found.”Also yesterday, Mr Blakeney maintained his Ministry had been attempting to find “a way forward” that would still allow the service to continue.A Government review of the charity’s “operational efficiency and financial status” had been underway when the Sunshine League announced it was shutting down residential care by the end of this month, he said.“The Board of the Sunshine League did indicate to the Government that they were predicting a shortfall in donations this year, and as a result wanted to move from the current residential model to a different model,” the Minister said. “The Sunshine League proposed that Government take over all the operating expenses of the facility, cover day to day maintenance costs, and lease the current facility from the Sunshine League, whilst the Sunshine League would continue to fund raise in its own name.”A Department of Human Resources was launched after Government expressed concerns with this proposal, the Minister said, adding: “Government had requested, and is yet to receive current information regarding the financial status of the Sunshine League.”Mr Blakeney said Government hoped to meet with the charity’s administrators as soon as possible, although several of its members are off the Island.“We’re hoping there are still some open minds on their executive board,” he said.In his statement last night, Mr Blakeney added: “It is not my intent to engage in a war of words or to be at odds with the Sunshine League Executive Board. Our focus, as it should be, is more appropriately targeted in the interests of saving the facility in order that the services it provides for children in need is sustainable, notwithstanding the challenges that we hope to overcome.“Moreover, I commend all stakeholders, including the Executive Board of the Sunshine League, donors, and prospective donors who remain committed to protecting the best interests of children in need of foster care.”