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Durham CAS Stonewalls Client

January 2, 2009 permalink

According to John Dunn, Durham CAS is denying a client access to his (maybe her) own file.

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Thursday, January 01, 2009

Durham CAS Supervisor Theresa Ducey Denies Client Access to Files

A Durham Children's Aid Society supervisor, Theresa Ducey is refusing to allow a client to review their own files, something clients have a right to do, and which is a fairly standard practice within most child-welfare agencies and departments across the Country.

John Dunn, the Executive Director of the Foster Care Council of Canada talked on the phone with Ducey approximately a week ago and Ducey informed him that file access is a fairly regular procedure where a worker will accompany the client while they review their files.

Dunn is also in the process of trying to obtain a copy of the Society's policy on client access to their own files so the client is aware of their rights.

"It is extremely frustrating to see that a Supervisor at the Durham Children's Aid Society is choosing to be contentious on such a simple matter, which will end up costing hundreds or thousands of tax-payer dollars for legal counsel as the Society is unnecessarily dragged through the complaints procedure of the Child and Family Services Review Board" Dunn said.

The Council is currently working on a press release regarding this matter and will make a report available to the provincial Auditor who now has jurisdiction over Children's Aid Societies, the Ombdusman of Ontario, child-welfare critics at the Legislative Assembly, the local Regional Office of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, the Minister of Children and Youth Services and to the media in the hopes of bringing the appropriate attention to this matter.

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Contact
John Dunn
613-228-2178

Source: Foster Care News

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