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Grinch Strikes
December 7, 2012 permalink
British Columbia social worker Donna Fraser has sent out notice that foster children will not be receiving Christmas presents this year.
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From: Fraser, Donna L MCF:EX [mailto:Donna.L.Fraser@gov.bc.ca]
Sent: December-03-12 3:03 PM
To: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Subject: Christmas Gifts for JamesPlease be advised that due to cutbacks, MCFD will not be supplying Christmas gifts for children in care.
As parents and extended family, you are still expected to provide a gift for your child if you wish to do so.
Thank you.
Donna Fraser, B.S.W.
Child Protection Social Worker
Shop Steward
Ministry of Children and Family Development
Collaborative Response Team - EFD
#125 - 1165 Battle Street, Kamloops, BC V2C 2N4
Phone: (250) 371-3600 Fax: (250) 371-3647Source: email
Maybe this story explains where the presents went.
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David Rennie: Fired Salvation Army executive director surrenders to police
David Rennie, executive director of Salvation Army, seen in undated Salvation Army photo.Salvationarmy.ca photoNov 21, 2012 The executive director of a Toronto facility has been fired after an internal audit uncovered more than $2 million in missing toys, food and donations.
Former Salvation Army executive director David Rennie has been charged in connection with the theft of $2 million worth of toys from the Salvation Army’s toy and food distribution centre in Toronto.
Rennie, 51, was arrested after he turned himself in Monday morning. He faces charges of theft over $5,000, possession of property and criminal breach of trust. He was released on a promise to appear in court on Jan. 4.
“We’re alleging the thefts took place under David Rennie’s control and without the permission of the Salvation Army,” Det.-Sgt. Jim Gotell of 33 Division said at a news conference.
“We’re alleging that the toys were going to be redirected to other parties and sold for profit,” said Gotell.
Investigators identified Northern Sales Group, a company with a warehouse located at Weston Rd. and Steeles Ave., as a wholesaler involved in the redistribution scheme.
A team of detectives is looking for a second person of interest who is connected to Northern Sales Group.
“We’re making attempts to arrest him,” Gotell said.
Police have been investigating thefts — which occurred over two years — since Nov. 6, following an internal audit by the Salvation Army, Gotell said.
Rennie was on paid leave after an employee blew the whistle on the theft in August. He was fired last week.
On Friday, police uncovered a massive cache of goods — including nearly 150 skids of toddler playpens, porcelain dolls, chocolate bars and other items — at a warehouse in Brampton, where Northern Sales Group had cold storage space.
On Saturday, a second cache of goods police believe belong to the Salvation Army was uncovered at Northern Sales Group’s warehouse on Garyray Dr. in North York — a second of four search warrants executed in the last 72 hours.
The two other search warrants — at residences in Toronto and Durham Region — yielded documents that Gotell said police believe will assist in the ongoing investigation.
As for the recovered property, Gotell said police are working with the Crown Attorney’s office to have the items returned to the Salvation Army “as soon as possible” and in time for Christmas.
Police are currently working on an itemized inventory with photographs to provide to the Crown.
Source: Hamilton Spectator
Addendum: From the same source that forwarded the email, here is a retraction:
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Dear Colleagues,
You may be aware that there are reports in social media that the Ministry will not be supplying Christmas gifts to children in care. This is not accurate and there has been no change to the current practice regarding gifts for children and youth in care. We would like to clarify the use of some discretionary funding for children in the care of the director under the Child, Family and Community Service Act.
The vast majority of our children in care are placed with foster care families and part of the maintenance payment they receive from the ministry is to cover presents for events and milestones in the child or youth’s life which would include holiday gifts.
For those children and youth where this is not the case then the child/youth worker has the ability and is encouraged to purchase a small gift. As has been the case in previous years, this purchase would be under the umbrella of recognizing milestones and other important events for a child or youth where the purchases of small gifts are allowed up to a maximum yearly amount of $100 per child or youth.
We would appreciate your assistance in reviewing this with your Community Service Managers, Team Leaders and Social Workers who are responsible for providing services to children and youth in care.
Doug Hughes
Provincial Director of Child Welfare
Bev Dicks
ADM Service DeliverySource: Facebook, MCFD Campaign
