HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-10-08, Page 17THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8,1997. PAGE 17.
CAS says child protection everyone’s job
By Mary McConville
Executive Director
Ontario Association of
Children's Aid Societies
The number of children in need
of help and protection has been
rising steadily over the past several
years but the resources available to
help them have been shrinking. Too
many children are suffering in our
province and this has ominous
implications for the future.
Recently, we have seen
considerable media attention
focused on a number of tragic cases
where children were killed by
abusive parents or caregivers.
Although the number of children
killed is very small, in comparison
to the province-wide caseload of
150,000 children, these cases
underscore the horrible fact that
home can indeed be a dangerous
place for some children. But, we
must not forget that even if we
succeed in strengthening laws and
procedures, the problem of child
maltreatment won't disappear.
Our society places great store in
its children. We look at them and
see both a reflection of ourselves
and hope for the future. They are
the closest we will ever come to
immortality. Perhaps that is why
there are no formal restrictions on
our 'right' to reproduce regardless
of our skills, resources or
willingness to be competent
parents.
There have always been
unwanted or abused children and
there always will be. The only
thing that ever really changes is the
degree of responsibility for them
that the community as a whole is
willing to a accept.
Not so long ago, western society
tried poorhouses, workhouses, and
orphanages to care for indigent or
abandoned children. More recently,
Pinery welcomes friends
Continued from page 11
McKay Crossman, Teresa
Jeromkin, Barry Richman, Klass
Veerboom, Josy Hilkes Britton)
from the River Road Gallery, of
Grand Bend, will be showing their
work. The recognition of these
artists ranges from the local to the
international level. Their oils,
watercolours, and acrylics will
feature nature scenes from Pinery
Park and highlights of the Grand
Bend area.
Hilkes Britton will give basic
watercolour instruction throughout
the day - she has taught art at
several high schools in Ontario.
4-Hers report
Continued from page 10
community leader.
Entries must be typewritten and
double spaced. All submissions
must include 4-H member's name,
address and telephone and date of
birth on the back of the entry.
Entries will be critiqued on content
(50 points), writing (45 points) and
presentation (5 points).
Winners in each category will
receive a $100 cash award.
For complete competition details
contact the Ontario 4-H Council
office or local 4-H association.
Entries must be received by Nov.
15, 1997 and be sent to Ontario 4-H
Council, Evelyn Chambers, co
ordinator of activities, RR 1,
Oakwood, ON K0M 1M0.
something we call the child
protection system defines our
collective responsibility for
children at risk.
In the 1980s, the Child Welfare
Act which guided the protection
system was considered by many to
be too intrusive, encouraging
children's aid societies to remove
children too easily from the care of
their parents. New legislation, the
Child and Family Services At of
1984 was proclaimed and this new
law reflected the new Canadian
Charter of Rights and the Human
Rights Code. What is often missed
by historical analysts is that this
change just happened to catch a
swing in a pendulum of public
opinion towards lower direct
taxation and government's
spending.
Unfortunately, cuts in
government spending have been
accompanied by massive economic
and social restructuring. In the
1990s, more and more families
with young children have found
themselves being pushed to the
margins of society with fewer and
fewer places to turn for help. Not
surprisingly, it is on the margins of
society where we are most likely to
find problems of substance abuse,
domestic violence, and physically
abused and neglected children.
One form of child maltreatment,
child sexual abuse, does not seem
to vary with economic or social
pressures. There is today, however,
a much greater public willingness
to confront the problem and this
too has placed more stress on the
child welfare system.
For some time now it has been
clear that too many children are
slipping through the safety net. Last
spring the Ontario Association of
Children's Aid Societies and the
Ontario Coroner's Office jointly
launched the Child Mortality Task
For those people who are
members of The Friends of the
Pinery Park, the day will include
dune grass planting. Dune grass is
planted to help stabilize the dunes
and maintain the natural
environment of Pinery Park. Each
year the Friends return to the area
they planted the year before to see
the fruits of their labours and then
proceed to a new area for planting.
After the enjoyable work of
planting, the Friends take part in a
fish fry supper in the park. For
those people interested in dune
grass planting or the supper, a $20
fee will purchase a one-year family
membership.
Force to examine the incidence of
deaths and to make
recommendations for systems
improvements.
Some of the early
recommendations of the Task Force
have called for more public
education about child abuse and
neglect, better tools to assist child
protection workers such as
standardized risk assessment and a
province-wide computer network
for better tracking of high risk
cases. We have also called for
amendments to the legislation to
strengthen child centred principles
and the ability of a CAS to
intervene in cases of neglect,
among others.
Because so much attention is
being focused on cases in which
children have been killed by their
parents, some may be tempted to
think that the only decision to be
made by children's aid societies is
whether it is 'right' or 'wrong' to
leave children with their parents.
That is certainly the most difficult
decision any child welfare worker
must make but it is by no means
the only one.
Removing a child from the care
of its parent is never made lightly.
Parents may be abusive or
neglectful but they are still the only
family that child has known - and
many, many parents have been able
to learn to change their ways with
appropriate supports. The fact that
some may never change is poor
justification for refusing to give
others a chance. Sorting out which
parents can respond to help from
those who will not is often a
complex task.
Intervening to save children from
abusive or neglectful parents is
sometimes the only course open but
it is never the end of the story.
Abused and neglected children
Members will also get a 20 per
cent discount at the "Savanna
Shores" nature store on the day of
the event. .
The Friends of Pinery P;.rk is a
charity that raises funds for park
interpretive, educational, scientific
and historic projects and programs.
Members are motivated to join
because of their love and concern
for the Pinery's beautiful, natural
habitat. Benefits include
newsletters, special vents, voting
privileges, and discounts in the
"Savanna Shores" nature store.
For information on becoming a
"Friend" call 519-243-1521.
often have learning ditficuities and
emotional problems that complicate
their growing years. Finding
permanent families for these
children is a constant struggle.
The incidence of child
maltreatment can be substantively
reduced by intervening as early in a
child's life as possible. Supporting
the healthy development of babies
and toddlers is vital to giving
children at risk a fighting chance.
This is why the Child Mortality
Task Force recommended a
universal pediatric screening
process for every newborn to
identify risk. The government's
recently announced Health Babies
initiative which will be run by
Public Health departments will
reinstate a very effective prevention
program that was lost to Ontarians
some years ago.
Families need help in the raising
of their children more than ever
before in our complex competitive
society. Child friendly
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communities and everyone having
a stake in the future of our children
are also essential ingredients in the
battle against child maltreatment.
Everyone has a part to play. Child
protection is everyone's
responsibility.
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TOWNSHIP OF
EAST WAWANOSH
The second
instalment of taxes is
due October 15,1997
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