Alberta Cover-up

February 13, 2007 permalink

Alberta has formed a committee to study the case of an Edmonton toddler who died without a name on January 27. One of the committee members is Peter Dudding, executive director of the Child Welfare League of Canada - a trade association for the child protection industries of Canada. Other members are also employed in child protection. The composition of the board suggests that it is preordained to sweep the case under the rug for two years, then recommend more money and power for child protectors.

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Minister names foster care review board

Last Updated: Monday, February 12, 2007 | 5:24 PM MT, CBC News

A seven-member committee will review the death of an Edmonton toddler whose foster mother has been charged with second-degree murder, Children's Services Minister Janis Tarchuk announced Monday.

The review, to be lead by Mark Hattori, acting assistant deputy minister of children's services, will not only look into the details of the case, but also examine ways to improve the foster care system to prevent similar tragedies.

"We're going to go as far as we possibly can in terms of looking at the assessment process, the matching process, the ongoing monitoring and the service and supports provided to foster parents and the kids in foster homes," said Hattori.

The review is complex and will take between six months and two years to complete, he said.

Tarchuk has said she will release results to the public as long as they don't contravene any privacy rules.

Also on the review board are:

• Dr. Lionel Dibden, medical director of the Child and Adolescent Protection Centre at the Stollery Children's Hospital.
• Peter Dudding, executive director of the Child Welfare League of Canada.
• Linda Hughes, executive director of McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association in Calgary.
• Debbie LaRiviere-Willier, associate director of the child welfare department with the Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council.
• John Mould, Alberta's Child and Youth Advocate.
• Lillian Parenteau, chief executive officer, Métis Settlements Child and Family Services Authority.

A three-year-old boy died in an Edmonton hospital on Jan. 27 of head injuries after being rushed from his foster home.

Charges against his foster mother, 32, include second-degree murder, assault causing bodily harm and child abandonment or failure to provide the necessities of life.

She has yet to go to trial.

Source: CBC