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Youth Leaving Care Hearings
November 15, 2011 permalink
Ontario's child advocate Irwin Elman invites youth in care, or formerly in care, to participate in hearings. The first two sessions will take place in the Ontario legislature on November 18 and 25 (dates recently amended). Mr Elman extends a video invitation on Irwin's rant (mp4). Youth interested in contributing should start with the Youth Leaving Care Hearings home page. Find out how to participate on the submissions page. For young people fearful of children's aid and social workers, you should know that Mr Elman is not part of children's aid. He is responsible only to the legislature, so no one in the children's aid system can direct his activities.
Addendum: Fixcas has not examined the results of the hearings, but here is a discouraging report from blogger mamajustice and one from Vern Beck suggesting more balance.
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What’s happening at Queen’s Park
As many of us know, beginning last week and continuing tomorrow at Queen’s Park, will be the hearings of the youths that are aging out of care in the child protection system in Ontario. They will have the opportunity to tell of their experiences in care, raise any concerns about what the future holds for them and what changes they feel should be made.
Strangely, even with all of the evidence their has been in recent years, it appears that many of the stories being told are ones of satisfaction with the services they were provided and their experiences. This seems odd!
Like myself, many are asking themselves, where did they find these kids to tell these stories? As a journalist that has had the opportunity to communicate with many current crown wards and former crown wards, the stories I have heard (at least 95% of them) have been stories of sheer horror and failure on the part of our government and child protection agencies in this province. Abuse in all it’s forms, sexual, physical, emotional and mental.
One must ask themselves what the agenda is currently with our government to address these issues, there is a progressive narrative of sorts going on here that is clearly contradicting the facts as we know them.
Source: mamajustice blog
Vernon Beck I attended and gave testimony at the child leaving care hearings at Queens Park today. There was compelling testimony from kids in carer and foster parents telling their stories of abuse by the system. Overall it was a good day and well put together by those advocating for change.
Source: Canada Court Watch
