Summary
"Who oversees Children's Aid Societies? Provincial ombudsman seeks authority to investigate complaints (published on Monday June 20, 2011) " is a newspaper article from the Toronto Star written by Ontario's Ombudsman, Andre Marin. Mr. Marin is deeply concerned with the lack of involvement by the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario in regards to independent oversight of Ontario's Children's Aid Societies (CAS). These Societies are protected against private investigations in relation to serious complaints about the mistreatment of children, as well as misconduct of staff. Every year, people seeking help from the ombudsman with respect to these issues are turned away or re-directed somewhere else for help (although there is a record of these complaints) due to the lack of power the ombudsman holds to investigate these complaint cases. Each province in Canada has allowed the ombudsman to oversee the protection of children, yet since 1975, the Ontario government has refused one's access. This is ultimately the choice of the Ontario government. Laurel Broten, Child and Youth Services Minister, stated that there is already "rigorous oversight" with respect to Children's Aid Societies. She claims that there are already many ways an individual with a complaint can come forward and be heard. Mr. Marin believes that yes of course this may be but what about the individuals who visit the ombudsman Office looking for their complaints to be dealt with because the "rigorous oversight" did not deal with it? These "oversight" mechanisms include the family courts, the auditor general (both can be costly), the office of the chief coroner, the pediatric death review committee (both can not become involved until after a child is dead), and the Child and Family Services Review Board. The Child and Family Services Review Board can only look at procedural issues involving those seeking and receiving service from CAS, while leaving out concerns from other family members, concerns of abuse and neglect of children, as well as threats made by CAS staff towards their clients. Children's Aid Societies receive $1.4 billion in government funds each year yet the Ontario government has no involvement. Over the past 35 years, bills proposing to have the ombudsman oversee Children's Aid Societies have failed, yet hope lays with the province's Commission to Promote Sustainable Child Welfare (established in 2009).
Opinion
I am actually quite shocked that the Ontario government does not overlook the work within Children's Aid Societies. When I think of Children's Aid, I think of the government involving itself in the protection of children (by regulations) meanwhile the government really has nothing to do with decisions made within the Society. CAS workers are responsible for the care of our children and because they have such a great power over our society it is important that these CAS workers do not abuse this power. Why the Ontario government would not want to allow the Office of the Ombudsman access to oversee how complaints are being dealt with within the society is beyond me. If the CAS workers knew that their actions would be followed up by the ombudsman, maybe there would be less complaints. I also don't understand why Ontario is the only province to not have the ombudsman involved? When you hear about Children's Aid Societies in Ontario, you hear a lot about corruption and its sad that within different communities, different Children's Aid Societies are known to be "worse" then others with respect to staff corruption. It is also known that there is a high turnover of CAS employees because the funding of these societies are based on how "busy" the society is (ie. the amount of money made in a society is based on the number of families they get involved with, whether actual child protection concerns are present). It is scary, as a parent, to live in a community where Children's Aid Societies are not regulated by our government to ensure fairness. It actually does not make me proud to be apart of the province of Ontario. Its time to make changes!
Citation
Andre Marin (2001). Who oversees children's aid societies? [Online] http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/2011/06/20/who_oversees_childrens_aid_societies.html
Questions
Do you agree with the lack of government involvement with respect to overseeing complaints within Children's Aid Societies of Ontario? Where do families go when there has been injustice within a Children's Aid Society?
Hey Amber.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think the government should be more involved in overseeing complaints within Children's Aid Societies of Ontario. These families and children are the reason why this society exists...and it's intention is protection and welfare for children. If no one is there to regulate the complaints, which are detrimental to the organization, how is this helping the child? Or the family? Or even the Society itself?
Taking note that Ontario is the only province in Canada to not have an Ombudsman overseeing this pretty much says it all. Clearly something isn't right here!
Hi Rebecca,
DeleteI am glad that you understand my position and hopefully enough of our society will agree as this affects not only parents but immediate family members and extended family members of people who are involved with Children's Aid Societies across Ontario.
Thank you for your comments,
Amber
Families probably end up moving to another province after injustice by CAS, in hopes they will get better treatment.
ReplyDeleteHi Ian,
DeleteYou bring up a very interesting point, but sometimes it's not easy to just pick up and move to a different province. You would have to consider employment, living situations, local support through extended family, and the cost it would cause the family to pick up and move to another province and literally start over. Most people do not have the money and security to deal with that. We as a society need to make a difference and fight for the Ontario ombudsman, Mr. Marin to be involved! Every other province has this and why can't Ontario?
Thanks for your comment,
Amber
It's frightening to think that there is no one separate from CAS that you can make a complaint to other than to those with whom you are launching the complaint against. I think that Children's Aid plays an integral role in protecting children from abuse (mandated under Section 15 of the Child and Family Services Act [OACAS, 2010]).
ReplyDeleteWhile it is crucial that this agency protect children from neglectful environments, it is also equally important that there be a separate entity for which one can direct concerns about either a particular agency or social worker for which they feel has acted negligibly while on duty.
If complaints can be made against doctors and lawyers (thus the necessity for practice insurance), then why is there no where to turn when we have an agency, such as CAS, whom may have acted irresponsibly in conducting an investigation about a child's welfare.
Hi Jennifer,
DeleteI do agree that Children's Aid does play an integral role in protecting children from abuse and we do need an agency to absolutely take of these issues, but when an agency has such great power it can be easily abused without government involvement.
Thanks for you comment,
Amber