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CAS Wards Isolated

January 29, 2009 permalink

A letter from John Dunn to Barbara MacKinnon shows that CAS isolates its wards by intercepting their mail.

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Barbara MacKinnon,
Executive Director
The Children's Aid Society of Ottawa
1602 Telesat Court
Ottawa, Ontario, K1B 1B1
613-747-7800 x2600

Barbara MacKinnon

If I want to send mail to a youth who resides at Apollo Way Home of Walker Youth Homes near Ottawa, how can I do so. Especially since it appears the home is blocking mail in contravention of section 103 of the Child and Family Services Act to that particular youth, who originally contacted me of his own initiative.

Sincerely

John Dunn

Executive Director

The Foster Care Council of Canada
http://www.afterfostercare.ca

Source: email from John Dunn January 28, 2009

Addendum: Here is a response from children's aid.

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To: afterfostercare@hotmail.com
From: pviger@casott.on.ca
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:04:34 -0500

Mr. Dunn:

I wish to inform you of the following on behalf of the Society:

The Society is aware of your efforts to communicate with a Ward who is currently placed in a group home operated by Mr. J. Walker. You left messages for this youth with the group home through telephone and e-mail. We understand that you are concerned that perhaps your messages have not reached the youth in question. The Society was assured that these have been communicated to the youth by the group home staff.

Please note that it is unusual and, at times, inappropriate for an adult to attempt to make direct contact with a minor with whom he or she has no pre-existing relationship or legal role. The youth in question has been made aware of his right to access the Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth , the Residential Placement Advisory Committee and the Complaint Procedure (The Child and Family Services Review Board). Moreover, this youth is currently represented by counsel from the Office of the Children's Lawyer. These organizations are the only ones that have a legal mandate to look into matters raised by children and youth in care and advocate for them, which includes direct and open communication with the youth.

We trust that you will respect the will of this youth to respond or not respond to your attempts to communicate with him.

Sincerely

Pierre Viger
Director, Professional Standards
The Children's Aid Society of Ottawa

Source: email from John Dunn January 30, 2009

Addendum: John Dunn says he received a call saying the boy in question no longer needs outside help. In later discussion, Mr Dunn, himself a former crown ward, said that in his opinion, the call was not coerced.

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The council received a call from the youth in Walker Youth Homes thanking us for our assistance and letting us know that appropriate action has been taken regarding the other youth in the home and letting us know that he was made aware of the fact that someone was not letting us call him at the group home, and that our services are no longer required.

Source: email from John Dunn February 4, 2009

sequential