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Over-Reaction?
January 27, 2011 permalink
When a thirteen-year-old Ottawa girl kicked out the rear window of a police cruiser she was diagnosed with oppositional defiance disorder, ADHD, sensory and self-regulation disorder, disruptive behaviour disorder and a non-verbal learning disability. She was sent to treatment in Utah, but returned to Canada after nine days. CAS seized her on return, and as usual, they are saying nothing about their intentions for the girl.
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Children’s Aid takes teen returned to Ottawa from Utah treatment program
OTTAWA — A mentally ill 13-year-old Ottawa girl who was returned from specialized treatment in Utah because she was deemed too violent has been seized from her parents by the Children’s Aid Society.
The girl was taken into CAS custody following a hearing at the Ottawa courthouse Wednesday.
The girl had been transferred to the U.S. facility this month after being placed on a peace bond following charges of mischief for kicking out the back window of a police cruiser. She can’t be identified due to provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. She was returned to Ottawa on Tuesday after spending only nine days in treatment.
The courts and the province’s Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, which has funding arrangements with U.S. facilities to provide residential treatment to Ontario residents, determined that the Utah centre was best equipped to treat the girl, who suffers from a variety of conditions, including oppositional defiance disorder, ADHD, sensory and self-regulation disorder, disruptive behaviour disorder and a non-verbal learning disability.
Her parents have since appealed to Premier Dalton McGuinty for help finding treatment for their daughter in Ontario.
Following the hearing, the girl’s mother said the CAS has no treatment plan for her daughter and intends to put her in a group home instead.
The CAS did not return a call seeking comment Wednesday.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
Addendum: An in-depth interview with the parents of the girl by Anna Maria Tremonti of the CBC (mp3 Feb 1) reveals the true depth of the problem. Starting at age three the parents noticed behavior problems in the girl. They have spent a decade watching helplessly as their daughter descends toward a fate that will reach homelessness, the criminal justice system, and possibly early death. No facility inside or outside Canada offers any real help. The CAS has grabbed their daughter, but she has no prospect of help from them. A judge told the parents that he has no control over what CAS does.
