Psychological Records / Sessions

Hello there.

I am new, and as my name states, I am a foster care survivor. I was moved through thirteen foster homes, 10 schools and years of verbal and physical abuse. More verbal/emotional

Today, at the age of 33, I am in therapy for the first time. I have a few questions from the good doctor about my circumstances, and the circumstances of thousands of foster children in Ontario alone, and anyone is welcome to comment.

1. When the Children's Aid Society is very knowlegeable about the abuse and long-term emotional / psychological damage caused by their actions, intentional or not, should they not be responsible to pay for these kids adult therapy? Is there any way I can get more information on this so I can start to advocate for these victims.

2. About our records. I have asked the (my agency is ) Catholic CAS in Toronto for my records of my life in foster care which they refuse because there is proof of abuse in them. I also asked for my pshycological reports and they say they are bound by confidentiality to not give them to me. I have walked to the east coast from Toronto to protest this and am still fighting this three years later.

They also will not give me my medical records claiming "confidentialtiy"

3. I have been hearing reports from foster parents who have been fired for "caring too much". I could go into major detail but it is an ongoing case, and I don't feel like typing anymore

Basics: Foster Family gets reported by one of the girls who was upset one day (false allegation potentially as she has addmitted to it being a false allegation) Then the CAS moves in and takes all the girls from the home against the girls and the family's wishes.

They appeal, and CAS gets the Ministry to hire two independants to investigate. In a 90 page report, the Ministry admonishes (talks down to) the CAS. Saying they are acting in malice etc.. and the report details how the girls fought with lawyers etc to get put back into the foster home. To no avail

They try to apply to another CAS but they have been reported to all CAS's. They are banned. This is common practice because when a "good' family has kids, they see the problems that the system has. And they speak about about it. So, the CAS gets rid of these foster families fast.

I have lost my train of thought but anyhow, it is going on at a huge mass level, especially since the changes to the Child and Family Services ACt a few years ago!

The increase in child apprehensions has increased over 45% in Ontario!

That is thousands of kids in foster care who could have been provided with assistance rather than being put into an emotionally abusive system and torn from their families.

Any thoughts?

John Dunn
Founder
The Foste Care Council Of Canada &
Foster Care Radio
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://afterfostercare.com/news>http://afterfostercare.com/news</A>

Wow John! I didn't have to suffer the foster program. I know those who did here in the states and it inevitably involves abuse of some kind. You most certainly have thought through all the repercussions and faults of the system more thoroughly than I can ever hope to. I just wanted to give you some kudos. I will check out your web site.

Willow

John,

This is a wonderful thing you are doing! I'm very, very impressed. I wish someone would crusade against the problems with Children's Services (more like Children's Disservices) down here like you are doing in Canada. That takes some big brass ones!

I will definitely check out your website. Anything we can do to help you out?

some of it's magic
some of it's tragic
but i had a good life all the way......
~jimmy buffett

John, do you have an attorney working with you to obtain your records?
If not, I would seriously consider talking to one about this. They may take a letter from your attorney more seriously. You may even consider a class action lawsuit, so that others can also obtain their records.