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Newfoundland Steals Kids

February 2, 2011 permalink

In Port aux Basques Newfoundland parents Dorothy and Bobby Rodgers are trying to get their two children back from CYFS. The province is demanding hiring a full-time live-in nanny as a condition for returning the children.

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Parents want children out of foster care

A Port aux Basques family feels Child Youth and Family Services (CYFS) has overstepped its bounds after taking their children, in part, based on IQ test results.

Documents from CYFS suggest the children’s mother is mentally unstable and cite that as another reason for taking custody of the children.

Dorothy and Bobby Rodgers say they have done nothing wrong and have provided a clean, loving home for the two children, a son and daughter aged 5 and 4.

The son has an undiagnosed learning disability. Mrs. Rodgers said she has been trying to have that disability diagnosed so he can begin treatment.

The past four months have been hard for the couple. Mrs. Rodgers said her husband is losing weight and often breaks down in tears.

The inside of their home is spotless. Parked outside is a Pontiac Montana with a few colourful stickers on the windows. Each door is monogrammed with a family member’s name.

“I have nothing to hide,” said Mrs. Rodgers, who admitted her life has not been a bed of roses. She freely shared all documents given to her by CYFS.

A report from a psychologist suggests the two parents should only get the children back if a full-time live-in caregiver is found to stay in the home. Mrs. Rodgers said such a demand is unreasonable and a violation of her family’s rights.

The report cites the mental aptitude of the parents as one of the reasons for preventing them from having custody of the children, but it also points to Mrs. Rodgers mental health as a possible concern.

Child Youth and Family Services Minister Charlene Johnson could not comment on the case specifically, but said in general, the department has trained professionals who look at a whole host of factors - including physical, emotional and cognitive - when deciding if intervention is needed.

She said IQ tests are one component of the cognitive aspect of risk assessments, but that would rarely be the only factor.

She said the decision to take a child out of a home is not taken lightly. She said a Judge is involved and he or she does not simply rubber stamp cases. Judges ask questions and often order assessments.

Source: The Gulf News, Port aux Basques Newfoundland

Addendum: Ted Blades of the CBC interviews the mother (mp3). The treatment of this mother is typical of the abuse of families by children's aid societies. Newfoundland CYFS has used biased assessments, untrue reports and burdensome appointments to harass the mother. They held the mother's own childhood in foster care against her. The low-IQ allegation arose because the mother viewed the parenting-capacity assessment as an IQ test.

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