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A systematic problem |
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Written by -- Editor Dave Paulson
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Wednesday, 07 May 2008 |
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FIRST NATIONSEDITOR DAVE PAULSON
But each new week seems to bring a new firestorm at the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
The latest was contained in a report by B.C. Auditor General John Doyle, who says the government has a big problem on its hands with respect to protecting aboriginal children in care.
The system, which for the past decade has seen the ministry shift responsibility for protection of aboriginal children to aboriginal agencies, should be re-examined, says Doyle.
That's because the ministry doesn't have a firm grasp on how those children are doing, nor on what's working and what isn't, the auditor general said.
Of particular concern is the sheer number of aboriginal children in care -- 51 per cent of all children in care in B.C. are aboriginal, yet aboriginal people comprise only eight per cent of the population.
It wasn't in Doyle's report, but in northern B.C. the number is far more disturbing -- about 76 per cent of children in care are aboriginal, according to Carrier Sekani Family Services in Prince George. Estimates from other sources put that number as high as 84 per cent.
Clearly, there has been a long history of failure on the part of the federal and provincial governments, First Nations and aboriginal groups on delivering services such as education, cultural needs, addictions counselling, prevention and protection.
A prime example of the mismanagement between the MCFD and an aboriginal agency is the case of the four-year-old Prince George girl who was found near death in her 47-year-old grandmother's care in 2004.
The girl, born with developmental problems and possibly suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome, was removed from foster care at age three and sent to her grandmother on the presumption she would be in the caring hands of a family member. However, 18 months later she was discovered, only after a neighbour complained, with two black eyes (concealed by makeup), old and new bruises from head to toe and severe malnourishment. It was later learned the girl's wrists were tied up at times, her mouth taped shut and she was sometimes kept in the basement.
The grandmother, herself a victim of an abusive and chaotic upbringing, pleaded guilty in January to assault causing bodily harm and was sentenced to three years of probation.
It defies understanding that neither the ministry nor Carrier Sekani Family Services, which assisted with the placement, followed through with even a casual check on the child's living conditions.
It has been a desire of aboriginal agencies that children be placed with extended family members or within the aboriginal community. That's laudable as long as the home is a suitable environment. This one was a house of horrors and nobody gave the little girl with special needs a second thought.
Since she was technically no longer in ministry care, chronically overburdened staff had one fewer child to worry about, while Carrier Sekani Family Services could feel good for placing her with grandma. What could go wrong?
She was out of sight, out of mind.
It's time for the provincial and federal governments, in partnership with First Nations and aboriginal groups, to finally come up with a system and the resources needed to truly protect these children.
-- Editor Dave Paulson
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 08 May 2008 )
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