Child and Youth Mental Health Saved from the Axe right now

Dix Flip-Flop
CKNW, (June 29 2005).

VICTORIA(CKNW/AM980) - The NDP is crowing
over a Liberal government flip-flop.

Two days ago, New Democrat critic Adrian Dix raised
concerns about a planned transfer of Child and Youth
Mental Health Services from the Children and Families
Ministry to the Health Ministry.

Today, Health Minister George Abbott cancelled the move.

"I think it shows that the premier was being extremely
cavalier in making a very important decision about mental
health services in the government that he hadn't thought
the decision through and he caused as a result a lot of
anxiety for people who depend on those services."

Dix says the government should apologize for causing
that unnecessary anxiety.
***************************************************
Liberal Flip Flop on Mental Health Services for
Children Demonstrates Need for Consultation.
June 29, 2005 - NDP

VANCOUVER – After pressure from the Opposition and
community stakeholders, the Premier and the Minister of
Health have reversed their decision to move Child and
Youth Mental Health services from the Ministry of Children
and Family Development to the Ministry of Health, said
NDP Children and Family Development critic and MLA
for Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix today.

“The Premier’s plan contradicted the recommendations
of the Gove Report that insisted all child welfare services
operate under a single body to minimize the risk of children
and youth slipping through the system,” said Dix. “The
government made the initial decision without consulting
the public or those affected by the changes. They made
sweeping changes behind closed doors, without discussing
it with experts and stakeholders in the field.

“Yesterday, the Minister of Health was cavalier in his
defense of the decision and the Minister of Children and
Family Development was nowhere to be found. Today,
the Campbell government flip flopped. Clearly, this
decision was rushed and the result of a flawed process.

“The Campbell government continues to bring uncertainty
and disruption into the children’s ministry. To date, they
have failed to maintain stability in the ministry and today’s
reversal shows that they still don’t get it.

“Children, youth and their families receiving support need
consistency from government. If Gordon Campbell and
his ministers had consulted stakeholders, they would
have heard that message loud and clear.

“I hope the government has learned an important lesson
today. The new NDP Opposition will work with stakeholders
to hold the government to account and represent the interests
of British Columbians.”
********************************************************
Gov't Flips on Child Mental Health Services
Jun, 29 2005 - 11:00 AM

VICTORIA(CKNWAM980) - Mental health services
for children and youth will be kept with the Ministry of
Children and Families, after all.

The BC Government yesterday announced that division
would be moved to the Ministry of Health, but today,
Health Minister George Abbott announced an "about-face",
saying the services will now be kept with the original
ministry.

"Government has heard from several stakeholders and
stakeholder groups that were concerned with the transfer.
Senior officials in government have discussed this matter
with these stakeholders and with other interested parties."

The NDP had complained the change would go against
the recommendations of the Gove Inquiry, which included
the advice to keep all services for children and youth with
the same Ministry. Just yesterday, Abbott defended the
move, saying it would increase efficiency.
*************************************************
NEW CROWN TO DELIVER, IMPROVE COMMUNITY
LIVING SERVICES.
Ministry of Children & Family Press Release

VICTORIA – On July 1, Community Living British Columbia
will begin delivering all provincial services to British Columbians
with developmental disabilities and working toward better meet-
ing their individual needs.

Hagen states: “Community Living BC is ready to deliver stable,
quality services now, through the same staff and locations as in
the past. Over time, it will implement a new service-delivery model
that provides more services and delivery options, better supporting
the hopes and dreams of individuals with developmental disabilities
and their families.”
************************************************************
Hmm, I'd like to hear Mr. Hagen tell the public about the readiness
of CLBC to take this task on. What's the infrastructure, or leader-
ship of CLBC looking like as in the services to THE most vulnerable
people change in such a drastic way. See some of my former posts
for links to some of the many readiness reports done leading up to
this.

You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't
fool all of the people all of the time, Mr. Hagen and those behind this
privatization. By no means is Hagen the mastermind behind this
scheme, he's just the mouthpiece, that's pretty clear, since all the
plans keep rolling with each change of minister. I wonder though
if they give MLA's and ministers receive education and training
in the values of ministerial responsibility to the public interest.
I'd put money on it that Gordon Campbell wouldn't waste time,
nor money on a thing like that. Some of his new MLA's might
actually get some ideas of their own about their responsibilities,
obligations and accountability to the public.

And, surprise, surprise, no press releases at all about the child and
youth mental health decisions from the government website. You'd
think with the well-paid flotilla of communications people in the
BC government they'd be able to get the news out to the people who
pay their salaries.

Youth crime court cases down

OTTAWA (CP) - The number of youth crime cases
coming to court fell dramatically last year in the first
year under the new Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Statistics Canada says the annual case load declined
by the largest annual amount in more than 10 years.

Judges heard 70,465 cases in the 2003-2004 fiscal year,
down 17 per cent from the previous year.

It was the single largest annual decline since 1991-1992,
the first year national figures were available.

The case load has been falling gradually, mainly because
of a steady drop in cases involving property crimes.

The new youth justice act emphasizes keeping less
serious cases out of court, dealing with them less formally
and telling youths of the consequences of their crimes.
****************************************************
While I certainly agree that youth should be given access
to diversion and rehabilitative and supportive programming,
what isn't part of this article is the fact that a good portion
of youth, including high-risk offenders, have learnt that
the YCJA has no teeth. Kids know that they won't get
charged, or breached, that any orders they might actually
receive aren't going to be enforce. They are learning that
frankly there are few consequences for their criminal and
often risky behaviour.

There has always been this small percentage of criminally
involved youth that have acted recklessly in that way, especially
youth with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and other cognitive/intellectual
deficits, however I've definitely observed a real awareness
on the parts of youth to create more mayhem, with the
knowledge there will be few repercussions. I've also
observed that youth probation, Crown counsel and youth
court judges are not recommending as serious consequences,
or enforcing the orders in place. While I will always view
myself as an advocate and voice for children and youth,
I also have the capacity to understand that some youth
are a danger to themselves, others and society and must
be reined in, stabilized and separated from peers who influence
their behaviour in the community. Sometimes that can only be
done during a brief stay in jail. Sounds harsh, it is. But some
of these youth wouldn't blink twice about doing what they
want in the moment. Right and wrong, caring about others is
abstract for some youth. There is only the present moment
and need, or desire.

These YCJA changes were implemented, in part, as a result of
the fact that Canada had an even higher youth incarceration
rate than our jail happy neighbours, America. While I don't
agree that this is the way to go, especially for those with invisible
disabilities (the saying goes FAS boys get locked up, the girls get
knocked up). The reality is that there is a larger generation of
youth who are growing up to have no fear, or respect for the
safety of themselves, or others, nor respect for the law.

Of course a cynical person might also think that this policy and
practice shift might also reduce the overhead that goes into
funding the youth criminal justice system and all of its attendant
community sector programs, such as probation schools, forensic
and/or mental health services and residential resources and
one to one workers (intensive supervision and support workers
[ISSP].

Privatization and Ministry shifting of Child & Youth Mental Health

Child Mental Health
CKNW, (June 28 2005).

VICTORIA(CKNW/AM980) - Community groups
that provide services to children across BC are concerned
but BC's Health Minister says his ministry's take-over
of child mental health services will be a good thing.

Craig Meredith with the Federation of Child and Family
Services says other provinces have been following BC's
example of combining child welfare services into a
single ministry as recommended in the Gove Report
nearly a decade ago now he says the government is
moving backward with no consultation.

"It was quite a shock to ministry staff and service
providers."

But Health Minister George Abbott says his ministry
will now offer all mental health services, increasing
efficiency...

"We believe it's gonna be a success and I'm looking
forward to seeing some great results from this."

As for who was consulted, "I can't, I can't speak to
that, I'll have to check into that."
***********************************************
I bet once he does check around that he will find many
people are happy child & youth mental health is going
over the health authority. No-one in their right minds
would want to be part of the Ministry of Children and
Family Development, what with the funding cuts,
organizational chaos and toxic work environment.
There is just no leadership to help the integrated model
really work in this province. It really is a big loss for
child & youth mental health to go, there will be an
increase in service gaps and other issues no doubt.

It's called privatization my friends and foes. MCFD is
rapidly divesting itself of anything to do with child welfare.
By the end of this week Community Living BC (a nightmare
in the making for those it purports to serve and those who
will be doing the serving), is supposed to be up & running.
Hmmm, missed the public, open announcement on that one
anywhere in the media, or even on the government website.

The continuing silence from the supposed advocates,
such as the BCACL, BC Coalition of People with Dis-
abilities, and Family Net etc. speaks volumes about
what we can expect from these organizations in terms
of real advocacy and voice for those affected by this
privatization. Still no news on the government website
either. If this CLBC plan is such a great thing, why aren't
they tripping over themselves to announce the
much waited for shift to community governance.
What are they afraid of and what are they hiding?
***********************************************

Privatization takes new form

NEWS, VIEWS & ATTITUDE

By Bill Tieleman, (June 28, 2005). 24 Hours.ca.

Maximus, the controversial U.S. corporation that has
already taken over administration of B.C.'s Medical
Service Plan despite privacy objections, is now poised
to take over the BC Nurseline, the province's telephone
healthcare service, 24 Hours has learned.

The BC Nurseline employs 100 registered nurses and
handles about 900 calls a day.

"I don't know what the motivation is but it seems
unnecessary to sell out the sanctity of Canadian medical
information," BCCLA president Jason Gratl said in an
interview. "The obvious alternatives are to hire a Canadian
company or not privatize and lower costs internally."

"We don't see the steps taken by the B.C. government
as adequate to prevent the U.S. government from having
access to confidential information," he said.
*************************************************
Another major issue in this is the absolutely crappy job
that "MSP" now does in responding to citizens inquiring
about ANYTHING to do with accessing health care.
I know I've e-mailed, or tried to contact them and have
family members who have mailed in very important
documents never to hear anything from this incompetent
monolith.

Manufacturing Children's Lives and Deaths

Coroner Adopts New Child Death Review Process
CKNW, (June 21, 2005).

VANCOUVER(CKNWAM980) - The BC Coroner's Service
is adopting a new process for reviewing deaths of children,
after the investigation into the death of 2-year-old Chassidy
Whitford.

Chassidy was accidentally smothered by her father while
he was drunk, and he was later convicted of criminal
negligence causing death.

Assistant Deputy Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe says Chassidy's
family, members of her native band and other community
representatives took part in the review, "and that resulted
in some recommendations to the coroner which the coroner
adopted, and it allowed everybody to be heard and to have
some control over the outcome, some sense that their issues
were considered and were considered to be important."

The recommendations include better training for hospital staff
and police when it comes to identifying and assessing child
abuse and better information sharing among community
agencies.
******************************************************
Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Review Findings Released in Death of Child: Chronology

Summary of the Director's Case Review Into the Death of CW.
(October 22, 2003).
************************************************************************
CBC, (February, 2003). Saving the Native Children.
News in Review.
****************************************************
Foster parent says Sto:lo system is flawed
By Kevin Gillies,(December 09, 2003). Abbotsford Times.

The Sto:lo child welfare program Xyolhemeyhl has failed
children in several instances, including the case of Chassidy
Whitford, according to a woman who has fostered several
First Nations kids for the program.

Xyolhemeyhl [pronounced heoth-meeth] has come under public
scrutiny since two-year-old Chassidy was discovered dead on
the Lakahahmen reserve Sept. 21.]
*********************************************************
Critical report ignored
By Lisa Morry, (December 09, 2003). Chilliwack Times.

In particular, the report, by CS/RESORS Consulting, Ltd., Elizabeth M.
Robinson, Inc. and Gordon Blackwell, states that 73.2 per cent of
child protection and guardianship files reviewed did not have a plan
of care on file. Of those files, 83 per cent did not have a safety
assessment on file and 83 per cent also did not have a risk assess-
ment on file.

"While the number of files overall is small (41), the findings have
particular strength because of their uniformity. That is, the rate
of sheer absence of records or of lack of currency of those records
that exist is very high indeed; or, put another way, there is a very
low proportion of activities for which information is current or even
present at all," the report states.
**************************************************
Commentary:

It's outrageous that the Liberals think they can water down
and cover up the reality that Chassidy Whitford, a child who
was barely two, lost her life due to the failure of the child
welfare system. As reported by CKNW and no-where to be
found on the government website, the BC coroner's autopsy
report suggests more training for police and hospital staff,
and increased information sharing are the answers to how
this child did not receive the protection and intervention
she deserved from the child welfare authorities, her family,
community and other professionals. If people are taking
the "hands off" turning a blind eye approach to protecting
children, then they also get the blame and the accountability
for children being hurt.

Hmm, no mention of the "notable gaps in the investigation
process," some of which included staff who investigated did
not recognize the nature of the risk to the child. The investi-
gator did not seek consultation, or receive it, the proper case
process and documentation was not performed and people
who may have been important to interview were not sought
out about the circumstances and safety
of the child"
(MCFD, Summary of the Director's Case Review).

Further audits of the agency found issues of accountability
and documentation, including a high majority of children's files
with no plans of care. Other conditions that impacted practice
included the complexity of the work and "the appalling social
conditions and an overwhelming caseload," (CBC, February,
2003).

Now, to be clear, this isn't an attack on Xyolhemeyhl, who
I'm sure were doing the best they could with the human and
other resources available. I'm afraid that those delegated to
provide protection to children can't play things loosy-goosy.
There are policy and practice standards for a reason. And to
be fair, BC has its share of good ones.

Leaders within Aboriginal agencies and others must help
train staff in learning policy, model and teach good practice
themselves and encourage staff to be involved in training.
All of this will assist workers in developing better skills, know-
ledge and assess the safety of children and the needs of them
and their families more accurately.

Another key to child welfare organizations and improved practice
is that there must be appropriate staffing levels. I fully believe
that those working strictly with Aboriginal children and families
must have lower caseloads. The complexity and intensity of the
problems facing First Nations families and communities cannot be
underestimated. The rich relationships and work that can be
created with families cannot occur when workloads, or caseloads,
are too high. An organization cannot develop an experienced,
competent work force in child protection if they keep burning
staff out. There is no social worker tree. They're not as expendable
as I've been led to think government believes. Sometimes I wonder
if the Liberals also think the populations being served in child
protection are expendable too?

The messy part of child protection is that sometimes in spite of the
best interventions tragedies happen. Child protection isn't an exact
science and the organizations are serving higher-risk individuals and
families. But the bottom line is that ethical, competent and knowledge-
able leadership and supervision is what is needed in any child welfare
organization. Sadly, this appears to be lacking in many. The only way
things are going to change, or improve, is if the Liberals realize that the
more fiscal constraint Treasury Board imposes the less focus is given
to the safety and well-being of children and youth.

I'm urging that there be no more cuts to the Ministry of Children
and Family Development. I have a hunch they are happening, even
separate from the impending devolution of CLBC and the money
that goes with them. The children's bodies are stacking up
and even in their deaths children's realities are being manufactured
by the very state that is responsible for their well-being.

United Nations, (2 September 1990).
Convention on the Rights of the Child

Article 3 1. In all actions concerning children, whether under-
taken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of
law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best
interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.

2. States Parties undertake to ensure the child such protection
and care as is necessary for his or her well-being, taking into
account the rights and duties of his or her parents, legal guard-
ians, or other individuals legally responsible for him or her, and,
to this end, shall take all appropriate legislative and adminis-
trative measures.

The Privatization of Community Living Services

Parents pan transfer of disabilities services:
'People not aware of what's happening, the
implications,' mother of autistic son says

Brad Badelt, (June 18, 2005). Vancouver Sun,
p. B1 & 4.

An independent authority will take over responsi-
bility for providing disability services across BC
from the provincial government in early July, but
parents of disabled children say they have been
left in the dark about the changes.

The transfer of services to Community Living BC
(CLBC), a Crown agency with government-appoint-
ed directors, marks a major step in the govern-
ment's long-standing plan to decentralize the
Ministry of Children and Family Development.

CLBC chair Lois Hollstedt said the official hand-off
is expected July 1st. "There is a letter that will be
going out to all the people we serve," Hollstedt
said. "To make certain people are fully aware of
the change."

But Dawn Steele, who has a 12-year-old son with
autism, said she is frustrated by the lack of
consultation. "The first issue, in my eyes, is this
is all going to happen July 1 and there's been no
public announcement, or discussion," Steele said.
"People are not aware of what's happening and
the implications."

Barb Laird's daughter has Down Syndrome, but
she said she has not received any formal notifi-
cation about the changes. "I've heard it's happen-
ing," said Laird, who receives an electronic news-
letter from CLBC every month. But she didn't
know it was going to be July 1, and she is worried
about how it will work.

(Continued: New agency will control $600 million
in funding)

The transition will move $600 million in funding -
provided to about 15,000 individuals and families
across the province - to the authority of CLBC.

"The great motivations to move outside of govern-
ment are more flexibility, more independence from
government and more ability to really put the person
to be served in the centre, rather than the system,"
Hollstedt said Friday.

The province has been planning to overhaul the ministry
since early 2002, but has been delayed several times,
most notably with the resignation of former restructuring
coordinator Peter Wall (should be Doug) amid allegations
of scandal in early 2004.

One change expected within the next two years is indivi-
dual funding, which Hollstedt said would allow individuals
or families to shop for their own services rather than rely
strictly on those provided by government.

The new funding mechanism, which will be voluntary,
would also make it easier for disabled people to move from
one region to another, Hollstedt. "One of the biggest com-
plaints about the current system is you can't take your
money across regional boundaries. You can't even take it
from city to city," she said.

But Steele is worried about whether CLBC - formed on an
interim basis in late 2002 - has enough experience to
provide such widespread services.

"They're saying they're going to increasingly rely on comm-
unities and families to provide the needed support," Steele
said. "That basically assumes that there is capacity in the
community and among families to do more than they're
doing now. It's an insult."

Laird, who likes the idea of being able to choose services for
her daughter, said she is concerned about where the money
will come from, particularly with a growing population of
disabled adults.

"I'm hopeful with CLBC I'm going to have more of a say as
to what my daughter's going to have [for services]," Laird
said, "because what's out there [right now] isn't necessarily
what I want for her."

***************************************************
Commentary:

The bottom line that people really don't want to hear is
that this entire process to devolve Community Living
Services is tarnished and flawed due to the fiscally driven
motivations and influence of Doug Walls. Despite the input
of many, one has only to read the reports from the initial
phases of the plan to realize that anything that Mr. Walls
was part of must be suspect.

The PriceWaterhouseCooper audit is really clear in stating
that Mr. Walls was able to insinuate himself into the Interim
Authority and the Community Living Transition Steering
Committee, as the driving force and chief architect to the
plan that has seen many leaders come and go, in efforts to
meet dangerous, poorly conceived deadlines and plans.
Mr. Walls was clearly reported to have

Okay, strike 1, Ms. Hollstedt. The fact that the parents of
those receiving supports and services through MCFD have
not even been informed about the impending "devolution"
of the services they are no doubt quite in need of for their
children, speaks volumes about who will really be at the
"centre" of this service delivery system.

I've been scouring the various organizations devoted and
funded(some with untendered government and foundation
contracts) by the BC government for any mention, update,
sneak peak at the news of the rapidly approaching devolution
and have found not a bit of news. This really speaks to the
climate of communication, collaboration and oversight that
can be expected of an organization that has political appointees
on it's Board of Directors and the people they will appoint to
sit on the regional micro-boards.

The Community Living BC Business Plan 2005 was
only just released in June. Considering the subtitle “Building
the Foundation for the Future” it seems a little late to release
this document only two weeks before the most significant
and risky change and service re-organization in the area of
developmentally disabled and special needs children, youth
and adults in a decade.

Having conducted a lot of research over the last while about
the history, background and process for the devolution of
CLS to CLBC, I’ve discovered that there are no less than at
least eight (8) consultation reports about the readiness of
CLBC to devolve (see below for references). Most point out
significant problems related to funding for devolution and
infrastructure development, organizational capacity, potential
for ongoing funding problems and concerns about possible
cuts to service in communities as a result of expected budget
shortfalls, and readiness and stability of leadership.
*****************************************************
References

Advocate for Service Quality


The BC Coalition of People with Disabilities

BC FamilyNet, (June 18, 2005). Letter to Premier Campbell.

BC Government and Employee Union, (May 30, 2005).
Memorandum of Agreement reached on employees
transferring from government to Community Living
B.C.

Boyd, B., (May, 2004). Devolution of Services to Community
Living BC:Updated Assessment of Readiness.

CBC News, (May 12 2004). Bad management, but no fraud in Walls
affair: report.

CBC News, (2004, January 23). Hogg resigns over audit.

CBC News (2004, January 19). RCMP recommended charges in
car dealership case.

CBC News, (2004 May 12). Report on Doug Walls due Wednesday.
CBC News, (2004, Mar. 4). Shake-up at Community Living B.C.

Ministry of Children & Family Development.
Chronology of Events:Transition to Community
Governance for Community Living Services.

BC Association for Community Living.

Community Living Coalition

Community Living Society

Milowsky, Fred, (September 30, 2004). An Operational
Examination of the Community Living Service Delivery
Model.

Minister of Finance, (May 6, 2004). Auditor’s Investigation
of CareNet Technology Society and the Provincial
Government's Dealing with Douglas F. Walls.

Sage Group Management Consultants, (Sept. 24, 2003).
New Governance - Some Considerations.

Homeless Plan Passed, Show Us the Money

Vancouver homeless plan gets green light
CBC News, (Jun 15 2005).

VANCOUVER – Vancouver city council has given its
unanimous approval to a Homeless Action Plan, which
recommends the construction of 8,000 social housing
units over the next 10 years.
****
Jill Davidson, the city's homeless policy co-ordinator,
says support for the initiative is widespread throughout
the community – providing a consensus to move forward.
"We've had Tourism Vancouver, the business community,
the Board of Trade come to us and say they are in support
of this plan," she says.
***
There's no official estimate of how much the Homeless
Action Plan will cost the city. But each new suite carries
a price tag of $130,000.

Justice for children abused in care?

Sex abuse settlement
CKNW, (June 13, 2005).

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - The victims of a
former foster parent who sexually assaulted children
in his care now have the power to sue the BC government
for damages.

A BC Supreme Court judge has approved a settlement
stemming from a 2001 class-action lawsuit involving
up to 30 victims of convicted sex offender Alan Walter
Winter. Between 1959 and 1986, the one-time Surrey
school trustee abused children as young as 11 years
old in Surrey and Langley.

Terms of the settlement have not been released, but
over the next five months, his victims can start filing
individual claims.

Winter --who's now in his 60's-- was deported to
Britain after serving one-third of his 16-year sentence.

He was designated a dangerous offender when he was
convicted in 1987.

MCFD News

Child Beater
CKNW, (Jun, 11 2005).

VANCOUVER(CKNW/AM980) - Vancouver Police have a
woman in custody, accused of attacking her own daughter yesterday.
Police say the woman was on a supervised visit with her 4-year-old
girl at the Ministry of Children and Families office on Kingsway.
She was left alone briefly but that was all the time needed to try to
smother the little girl.Staff managed to stop her and the woman was
arrested.The little girl is in stable condition.
***************************************************
Girl allegedly attacked by mother
The Province, (Sunday, June 12, 2005), p. A10.

A young mother is in custody after allegedly trying to smother
her four-year old daughter during a supervised visit at a govern-
ment office on Friday.

Vancouver police say the incident took place in the 3600-block
Kingsway Road at a Ministry of Children and Family Develop-
ment office.

During the visit, the mother was alone with her daughter and
tried to smother the little girl, say police.

Jeremy Berland, assistant deputy minister, said the assault
was a complete surprise to staff and it remains unclear how it
happened. He said at one point, the person supervising the
visit was knocked down while trying to intervene. Two other
staff members who heard the commotion also rushed to stop
the assault, said Berland.

"It's deeply disturning to us," said Berland. "We're very
concerned about the condition of the child."

The little girl was in stable condition yesterday.

Berland said he could not comment on whether the mother
has a history of violence, or what initially led the ministry
to take custody of the child.

Supervised visits are ordered by the court to ensure that
a child in the custody of the ministry is able to have contact
with it's parents.

"We supervise visits when there's a concern about something
a parent might say, or do, but in this circumstance, there was
no indication of violence," Berland said.

No charges have been laid.
******************************************************
Working group for family justice strays away from legal aid dispute
CKNW, (Jun, 10 2005).

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - A new report out tackles reform
to B.C.'s family justice system, but don't look for any action on legal
aid funding.The report recommends a move away from an adversarial
approach, and more towards mediation.

Its findings were put together by a working group made up of govern-
ment, lawyers, and judges. Its chair -- Jerry McHale - says it deals with
system changes.While the report aims to make a system that is more
accessible, it does not tackle government cuts to legal aid.
Feedback is now being sought on the report's recommendations.

Children's Rights and Agendas

CHILDREN'S 'C8': Children Meet to Place their
Issues on the G8 Agenda

Date: 3-5 July 2005
Location: Dunblane, Scotland

UNICEF Adolescent Development and Participation Unit,
Programme Division, HQ and the UK Committee is
organising a 'C8' children's summit due to take place
just before the G8 meeting of leaders, from 3rd to 5th
July 2005 in Scotland, United Kingdom. Young people
from eight of the world's least developed countries -
Bhutan, Cambodia, Moldova, Yemen, Republic of Guinea,
Sierra Leone, Bolivia and Lesotho will be joining young
people from G8 countries, Russia, France, Italy, Germany
and the UK to debate, discuss and firmly place their
issues on the agenda of the G8 leaders.

As part of C8, UNICEF is holding a webchat for young
people in association with UNICEF's Voices of Youth
Website. This webchat started on 1 June 2005 and will
last for one month. This is a chance for young people
from across the globe to debate issues which they think
the G8 leaders should address.

Their views will form part of a report which will be given
to the G8 leaders.

For more information, contact:
Nina O'Farrell, C8 Project Manager
Tel: + 44 20 7312 7667;Fax: + 44 20 7405 2332
Email: ninao@unicef.org.uk
Website: http://www.c8forum.org

Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=5665

To access the webchat.
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SEXUAL EXPLOITATION:
US Law Fails to Protect American Victims

[NEW YORK, 27 April 2005] - ECPAT-USA just released
an investigative report, "Who Is There to Help Us?
How the System Fails Sexually Exploited Girls in
the US," to call attention to the disparity in treat-
ment between American and foreign girls who are
trafficked for sexual exploitation. This report is
a major stepping-stone, which serves as an "Amber
Alert" as it brings attention and calls for reform,
and services to over 300,000 American children,
whose lives are at risk of commercial sexual
exploitation.

While in theory the Trafficking Victims Protection
Act of 2000 (TVPA), that the US Congress enacted,
provides protection for American girls who are
coerced into sexual exploitation, the report
explains that in practice the TVPA falls short.
American girls are practically ignored while
foreign girls receive federal assistance.

According to the report, the difficulty in
child trafficking and exploitation cases is
the invisible nature of the crime and lack of
hard data. The report, which was primarily based
on personal interviews, provides a regional
perspective in its coverage of four American
cities: New York, Atlanta, Minneapolis,and
San Francisco.

The report strives to make readers aware that
although these children are technically breaking
the law because of prostitution, they are victims
and should be treated as such. ECPAT-USA continues
through research, monitoring, and public awareness
to be the leading US organisation combating child
prostitution, pornography and trafficking for
sexual purposes.

For more information, contact:
Carol Smolenski, ECPAT USA
157 Montague Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 US
Tel: + 1 718 935 9192; Fax: + 1 718 935 9173
Email: csmolenski@ecpatusa.org
Website: http://www.ecpatusa.org

Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=5679
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Commentary:

This report is a perfect example of what some of my other
posts have been getting at: the authorities are devoting
much time, energy and funds to fighting the international
and  global sex trade, while ignoring the sexual abuse, 
violence and exploitation that is happening to the
children on our very own streets of our city, province
and country. There is very little funding that goes toward
supports, resources, or interventions for children at a local
level. It is hypocritical, ignorant and short-sighted to be
so wilfully blind to our own problems and the rights of
our children.

 

Adoption Issues in BC

To Rescue a Child from Foster Care, Adopt:
Why go overseas to adopt? The risks in BC
are overblown.
Mary Glasgow , (June 3, 2005). The Tyee.

Excerpt:

For the last five years, the Ministry of Child and Family
Services has been focusing on adoption, but with little
success. The list of people wanting to adopt is long, and
the list of kids in foster care and on adoption lists even
longer. But in BC, there are few adoptions, and many
would-be-adoptive parents go out of the country.

In fact, last year, there were nearly a thousand kids
wanting for families in BC, but only 350 kids actually
got adopted. That means most kids languish in foster
care where “the outcomes are pretty dismal,” according
to Anne Clayton who’s the adoption manager at the
Ministry. “There’s a recognition that kids with a
permanent family, or at least a life-long commitment
to an adult seem to have a better outcome in their adult
years.”
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Child Becomes 'real to you':
Foster Kids Online: Supporters argue photos
boost adoption rates
Elaine O'Connor, (June 5, 2005). The Province, p.A25.

B.C.'s adoption organizations are lobbying Victoria to
adopt a pioneering, online foster-child photo-listing
database that has proven successful in increasing the
number of successful adoptions in other provinces.

It's been more than two years since Alberta launched
a web-based gallery of foster children. The site, the
only one of it's kind in Canada, boosted adoptions
among 4,700 foster kids by 30% between it's launch
in February 2003 and October 2004.

Anne Carin, clinical director of CHOICES, a B.C.
private adoption agency, says that as the success of
the Alberta Children's Services program becomes
increasingly apparent, advocates are frustrated by
the Ministry of Children and Family Development's
delay in trying it.

"Alberta's seen enormous success. A picture's worth
a thousand words - people see a child and fall in love
with a face and they are willing to parent that child,"
Carin told The Province.

She said prospective parents are often intimidated by
thick assessment files detailing demands of special-
needs children with behavioural issues, abuse histories,
pre-natal exposure to drugs and alcohol, or medical
problems.

"With a photo, a child is real to you. Maybe they have
some learning challenges or special needs, but you see
it in context when you've got an actual child there," she
said.

Intimidated by a child's history, or fed up with a lengthy
process, B.C. parents often go stateside or look at inter-
national adoptions.

CHOICES has been putting pressure on the ministry to
take steps to implement the program here, but has met
with little success, since privacy laws governing adoption
in B.C. are stricter than those in Alberta.

"The ministry is not necessarily opposed to photo-listing,
but there is a lot of debate about the issue," said Jeremy
Berland, provincial director of adoption for the Ministry
of Children and Family Development. "We're concerned
about Internet predators and we're concerned about
privacy."

Berland said the ministry has studied the Alberta model,
but noted that legislative changes would be needed before
photo-listing could be done in B.C. He said the ministry
would also like to hold focus groups.

As it stands, the ministry's success rates are low. There
are 1,300 children in care in the average year, of whom
about 300 get adopted.

"We'd like to place more," Berland said." But before we
go down that path, we have to make sure that it's the
right thing to do."

On Alberta's website more than 100 children are up for
adoption, ranging from one to 13 years of age. Profiles
include photos, background information and in some
cases, videoclips. Families can make contact via e-mail
link.

In B.C., by contrast, the ministry posts written profiles
of children. All photos are withheld and the more than
230 children are listed under pseudonyms. Interested
families are directed to call a hotline for more inform-
ation about adopting. There are books of profiles and
pictures available to serious prospective parents in
ministry offices.

The Adoption Council of Canada maintains a photo
listing, but requires password issued after the council
obtains personal infomation and approves use of the
site.

eoconnor@png.canwest.com

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Commentary:

Adoption is a topic close to my heart, as an adoptee I think
the issue is an important one, wherein much thought should
go into the ethics and implications of how to increase the
number of children who receive permanent families.
I don't agree with Jeremy Berland on much, but I think he
is right that we need to look at the issue of confidentiality
and privacy rights of children in care in a very serious way.
The general public may not be aware of this, but in general,
children and youth in care are discriminated against, stigma-
tized and subject to different standards than other young
people in society. Children in care are also much more likely
to be labelled and excluded from participation in school,
which often continues a life of rejection and failure to
provide the support a child needs to process and

The Adoptions department of the Ministry of Children and
Family Development have worked very hard over the last
few years to develop innovative plans and more awareness
about the many children in care who are waiting for perma-
nent, or "forever" families. They also deserve credit for
helping 300 children find permanent homes, because that
is meaningful for each of those children and families.

The discussion about adoption numbers is incomplete
without mentioning the situation of First Nations children.
There are many barriers to the adoption of Aboriginal children,
who are then relegated to foster care and it's problems, of
which there are many. I'm deeply concerned at the
number of Aboriginal children who are denied the right
to a permanent family for political and cultural reasons.

I also think it is awfully ironic that the Ministry is so concerned
about the privacy rights of these children in care, when it isn't
nearly so vigilant when it comes to the other rights of children
in the care of the state. For the most part, children in care live
and die in invisibility. Other posts in this blog go into detail
about the failure's of the Liberal government to publically
report on the death's of children in government care, or children
who die out of care, who are, or have been involved with the
Ministry. It is a fact that under the Liberals the street youth
population has increased because the Ministry is routinely failing
to protect and provide safety to youth as young as 14. This failure
is a neglection of legislated duty under the Child, Family and
Community Services Act and the UN Convention on the Rights
of the Child, of which Canada is a signatory.

Now, as I mentioned above, the issue of adoption is close to me,
because I'm representative of the kind of person who received a new
life, with a new family, opportunities, enduring connections and love.
All children deserve these things and more, and especially children
in care. They've often already gone through things that most adults
can't even imagine and they deserve to be safe, well taken care of,
integrated in a family and community and loved beyond belief.

The Rights of Children and Their Parents

Ontario, families agree on return of severely
disabled children
CBC News, (June 3, 2005 ).

More than 100 families in Ontario are going to get
custody back of their severely disabled and autistic
children.

Lawyers for the families and the government reached
an agreement on Friday afternoon on how it will be done.

The parents have been forced to put their children in
the care of the province in order to provide them with
the costly specialized care they need. But they fought
that measure in court and won.

The province has since promised that whatever
agreement is reached on restoring custody it will not
restrict the parents' right to sue over how their families
have been treated.

The parents are suing but the province has decided to
appeal.

The government had promised to reunite the families,
but one of their lawyers said that was delayed because
there was no guarantee the children would keep the
services they are currently getting.

An aide to the minister of children's services says the
parents will start getting their custody rights restored
on Monday.