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Tour in Lindsay

August 6, 2011 permalink

The Protecting Canadian Children tour got to Lindsay today.

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Rallying to protect children

Protecting Canadian Children tours Kawarthas raising awareness of problems within the Children’s Aid Society

Linda Plourde and supporters
Rallying to protect children. Linda Plourde (far left) was joined by several supporters when her Protecting Canadian Children Ontario tour stopped in Lindsay and Peterborough today (Aug. 6). The group brought their awareness message to the Lindsay Square Mall (until 3 p.m.) and the Lansdowne Place Mall (from 5 to 8 p.m.)
Catherine Whitnall/This Week Catherine Whitnall

(LINDSAY) A small, but dedicated group of individuals has brought their message of Protecting Canadian Children to the Kawarthas.

The group, which will be at the Lindsay Square Mall until 3 p.m. today (Aug. 6) is taking their Ontario tour to Peterborough later this afternoon, stopping at the Peterborough office of the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society at 4 p.m., before heading to the Landsdowne Place Mall from 5 to 8 p.m.

Linda Plourde, who launched Protecting Canadian Children roughly three years ago in response to her experience with the Catholic Children’s Aid Society when the agency became involved after her daughter gave birth. Her research into the agency and its practices, as well as first hand knowledge of the treatment of her daughter and grandson, alarmed her.

Although not wanting to get involved, the now Stoney Creek resident has thrown herself behind what has become a national movement to bring public awareness to the desperate need for accountability and transparency within the Children’s Aid Society.

Ms Plourde has been joined by a several individuals who support her quest for change, including Velvet Martin, whose special needs teen daughter died shortly after being released from care, Marilyn Koren - her grand-daughter Delonna died six days after being removed from her daughter Jamie’s home - and Vernon Beck, who is working with Canada Court Watch, which has documented a number of violations occurring in the City of Kawartha Lakes.

Mr. Beck alleges that most CAS workers in Ontario are not registered and are working in violation to the law. He also states workers are entering schools and speaking to students without the knowledge and consent of parents.

Source: myKawartha


An expanded version appeared later:

Rallying to protect children

Protecting Canadian Children tours Kawarthas raising awareness of problems within the Children’s Aid Society

Linda Plourde and supporters
Rallying to protect children. Linda Plourde (far left) was joined by several supporters when her Protecting Canadian Children Ontario tour stopped in Lindsay and Peterborough today (Aug. 6). The group brought their awareness message to the Lindsay Square Mall (until 3 p.m.) and the Lansdowne Place Mall (from 5 to 8 p.m.)
Catherine Whitnall/This Week Catherine Whitnall

(LINDSAY) A small, but dedicated group of individuals brought their message straight to the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society offices in Lindsay and Peterborough on Saturday (Aug. 6).

Linda Plourde launched Protecting Canadian Children roughly three years ago following her experience with the Catholic Children’s Aid Society after the agency became involved with her daughter and grandson.

Although initially not wanting to get involved, the Stoney Creek resident has created a national movement determined to raise public awareness of the need for increased accountability and transparency within children’s services.

“Once I realized the dozens of children who were dying in foster care. . . I became concerned,” said Ms Plourde. “We simply cannot accept 100 children per year dying in foster care.”

Ms Plourde said it’s ironic given the fact the CAS was “created to protect children”, but the agency is now “out of control”, operating without any accountability.

“They’re taking things too far under the guise of caring [for children]. The government is no longer working for the children,” she said. “Children have become merchandise.”

Close to completing an Ontario tour, Ms Plourde is joined by several individuals who support her quest.

Velvet Martin’s special needs daughter, Samantha, died shortly after being released from care.

Ms Martin, a former Ontario resident now living in Alberta, relinquished custody in order to access the services her daughter needed. But over a 10 year period, Samantha sustained numerous injuries - including several broken bones - lost considerable weight and her behaviour degraded. A few months after returning home, Samantha died of a heart attack, believed to have been connected to untreated seizures she had experienced during her many years of care. She was 13.

In December 2009, the Alberta Family Support for Children with Disabilities Act was amended by Samantha’s Law, requiring the Family Support for Children with Disabilities Program to have separate legislation from that of child protection services. Ms Martin is working to take Samantha’s Law national.

“When protocols are breached, there’s no follow through. There’s no consequences and no accountability,” said Ms Martin. “We need to get back to family-centred care practices. We need to give grandparents and other family members to opportunity to step forward and provide care.”

Grandparents like Marilyn Koren, whose granddaughter Delonna died six days after being taken into the custody of the Alberta CAS. Ms Koren said her daughter, Jamie, was sharing a home with another woman who was being investigated.

Ms Koren said the infant was removed without report or warrant and placed in care, despite the fact she was willing to take the baby into her home. The two women had only one visit in the six days Delonna was in care. That day, the baby had red marks on her head and face, diarrhea and a severe diaper rash. A few days later, the infant was taken to hospital where she died; her mother notified that night.

“Going downstairs at the U of A (University of Alberta) Hospital and seeing that sign ‘morgue’ - no parent or grandparent should have to go through that. Not like this,” she said.

While both Ms Martin and Ms Koren’s stories occurred half a country away, they caution the problem is Canada-wide.

Vernon Beck, who is working with Canada Court Watch, cites he has documented a number of violations occurring in the City of Kawartha Lakes.

Mr. Beck alleges that most CAS workers in Ontario are not registered and violating the law.

Kawartha-Haliburton CAS executive director Hugh Nicholson noted the statement is only half correct.

The child protection worker position is a legislated position through the Child and Family Services Act, containing specific protocols, said Mr. Nicholson. Those who have a Bachelor of Social Work or Psychology degree - the latter with a social work diploma - as well as related experience, must complete a provincial authorization process that takes about a year. Competency is based on training and extensive testing, plus an internal audit.

“We have very similar standards in order to be in compliance with legislation,” said Mr. Nicholson, noting there is no need for those in compliance to register with the College. “The College doesn’t address the realities of what is happening in the social welfare field.”

He noted the agency has a “systematic approach” to identifying risk with children which is very complex.

“There are a lot of checks and balances,” said Mr. Nicholson pointing to a strict set of standards - more than 200 - to which social workers must adhere.

In response to Mr. Beck’s statements that workers are entering schools and speaking to students without the knowledge and consent of parents, Trillium Lakelands District School Board director of education Larry Hope said all board staff have a legal obligation to report suspected abuse. Defined protocols are in place for contacting agencies along with how those agencies are permitted to operate within schools.

“We have very clear policies and procedures regarding how we work with the CAS,” said Mr. Hope, noting the board has been following proper policy.

Mr. Hope confirmed the board has been in contact with Mr. Beck and, based on direction from legal counsel, has requested he “cease and desist” what is being viewed as harrassing behaviour.

Despite this, Mr. Beck is committed to continuing the fight, both with Canada Court Watch and Protecting Canadian Children.

Source: myKawartha

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