本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Advice from a Child Welfare Practitioner
First I need to declare conflict of interest. I have worked in child welfare for about 20 years, though not with Toronto CAS, so my perspective may be slightly different from others.
Though forum information based on hearsay or one sided story is not reliable, I still would like to toss in my 2 cents:
1. Child welfare in Canada is a social institution like fire, police, education, and etc. All authorized workers have the mandate to protect children, under the Child and Family Service Act. it does not mean they can do whatever they like. Their behaviour is regulated by the CFSA, the Ontario Risk Assessment Model, Ministry directives and standards and watchdog organizations. Child welfare is part of our life.
2. If I see a child hit by a parent say in a restaurant, I have the legal authority to remove the child from the parent's care and custody. Every time a worker removes or apprehends a child from the caregiver's custody, a Protection Application has to be brought before the child welfare court. The judge will determine if there are sufficient protection grounds; otherwise, the child will be released. Others involved include the parents and their lawyers and the child's lawyer appointed by the court. The child's advocacy office may be involved as well.
3. By reading the article, I have a few questions. It happened on October 10, when the weather was not so warm. At night, we usually closed all the windows. Why were the windows opened? Also, the child did not wear clothes. Why? There was noise enough to arouse attention from the neighbour. Was the mother screaming and yelling? Why did the mother use physical force? Enough to leave a red mark or red marks? There are too many unanswered questions.
Based on the Ontario Risk Assessment Model, the red mark is quoted as 11A (Physical Harm by Caregiver - Extremely Severe). The yelling can be 53B (Caregiver has Problem Causing Risk that the Child is Likely to be Harmed). Depending on the content of the yelling, 14C may apply (Implied Verbal Threat).
This sounds technical, but Toronto CAS definitely had a reason to intervene on that night.
4. The 5 day rule says the parent must be served with the Protection Application and related court document. The lady should have sought legal advice, I hope.
5. I understand Toronto CAS has their own clinic, with doctors and nurses. At admission, a child has to be seen by the doctor or a nurse practitioner. If the lady has expressed health concerns, I don't understand why the CAS staff would refuse their own doctor to examine the child. To me, this is too easy and no child welfare worker will refuse to do it. Is there any communication breakdown between this client and CAS?
I don't want to continue to criticize. Let me throw in a few pieces of advices:
1. Ask to talk to the supervisor and then the branch director, who is Joan Davis. If not resolved, ask for Hanna Gavago (spelling???) responsible for complaint. Last resort is Nancy Dale, the Director of Service. Bruce Rivers has left the agency. The big boss is Carolyn Buck.
2. If the above does not work, go to the Regional Office of the Ministry of Child and Youth Service and talk to the Program Supervisor. Councilor and community leaders are fine, but CAS has the right not to disclose anything. Every time I receive a call from an MPP, I would say "sorry, confidential". Even if you sign a release of information, the child welfare system is too complicated for some MPPs to understand.
3. Call the child's advocacy office. They are more powerful.
4. Get a lawyer, who knows child welfare inside out.
5. Under the new Kin Service and Kin Care Regulations, you can find a relative or a family member or a member in the community to propose a plan to care for the child.
6. Get advice from a social worker. CAS may ask you for a psychiatric assessment or a parenting capacity assessment. Put it this way I had the feeling at my first reading of the article that you may have any mental condition, anger management problem and child management deficiency. You have to learn good skills dealing with these professionals.
7. Ask for more frequent access. As a general rule, you are allowed one visit during the week and one over the weekend at a visit access centre. You have to learn how to organize yourself and your behaviour during the visits, which will become part of the evidence for court purpose.
If you need more help, I am more than happy to give you further advice. Good luck and all the best.更多精彩文章及讨论,请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
First I need to declare conflict of interest. I have worked in child welfare for about 20 years, though not with Toronto CAS, so my perspective may be slightly different from others.
Though forum information based on hearsay or one sided story is not reliable, I still would like to toss in my 2 cents:
1. Child welfare in Canada is a social institution like fire, police, education, and etc. All authorized workers have the mandate to protect children, under the Child and Family Service Act. it does not mean they can do whatever they like. Their behaviour is regulated by the CFSA, the Ontario Risk Assessment Model, Ministry directives and standards and watchdog organizations. Child welfare is part of our life.
2. If I see a child hit by a parent say in a restaurant, I have the legal authority to remove the child from the parent's care and custody. Every time a worker removes or apprehends a child from the caregiver's custody, a Protection Application has to be brought before the child welfare court. The judge will determine if there are sufficient protection grounds; otherwise, the child will be released. Others involved include the parents and their lawyers and the child's lawyer appointed by the court. The child's advocacy office may be involved as well.
3. By reading the article, I have a few questions. It happened on October 10, when the weather was not so warm. At night, we usually closed all the windows. Why were the windows opened? Also, the child did not wear clothes. Why? There was noise enough to arouse attention from the neighbour. Was the mother screaming and yelling? Why did the mother use physical force? Enough to leave a red mark or red marks? There are too many unanswered questions.
Based on the Ontario Risk Assessment Model, the red mark is quoted as 11A (Physical Harm by Caregiver - Extremely Severe). The yelling can be 53B (Caregiver has Problem Causing Risk that the Child is Likely to be Harmed). Depending on the content of the yelling, 14C may apply (Implied Verbal Threat).
This sounds technical, but Toronto CAS definitely had a reason to intervene on that night.
4. The 5 day rule says the parent must be served with the Protection Application and related court document. The lady should have sought legal advice, I hope.
5. I understand Toronto CAS has their own clinic, with doctors and nurses. At admission, a child has to be seen by the doctor or a nurse practitioner. If the lady has expressed health concerns, I don't understand why the CAS staff would refuse their own doctor to examine the child. To me, this is too easy and no child welfare worker will refuse to do it. Is there any communication breakdown between this client and CAS?
I don't want to continue to criticize. Let me throw in a few pieces of advices:
1. Ask to talk to the supervisor and then the branch director, who is Joan Davis. If not resolved, ask for Hanna Gavago (spelling???) responsible for complaint. Last resort is Nancy Dale, the Director of Service. Bruce Rivers has left the agency. The big boss is Carolyn Buck.
2. If the above does not work, go to the Regional Office of the Ministry of Child and Youth Service and talk to the Program Supervisor. Councilor and community leaders are fine, but CAS has the right not to disclose anything. Every time I receive a call from an MPP, I would say "sorry, confidential". Even if you sign a release of information, the child welfare system is too complicated for some MPPs to understand.
3. Call the child's advocacy office. They are more powerful.
4. Get a lawyer, who knows child welfare inside out.
5. Under the new Kin Service and Kin Care Regulations, you can find a relative or a family member or a member in the community to propose a plan to care for the child.
6. Get advice from a social worker. CAS may ask you for a psychiatric assessment or a parenting capacity assessment. Put it this way I had the feeling at my first reading of the article that you may have any mental condition, anger management problem and child management deficiency. You have to learn good skills dealing with these professionals.
7. Ask for more frequent access. As a general rule, you are allowed one visit during the week and one over the weekend at a visit access centre. You have to learn how to organize yourself and your behaviour during the visits, which will become part of the evidence for court purpose.
If you need more help, I am more than happy to give you further advice. Good luck and all the best.更多精彩文章及讨论,请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net