WINNIPEG — The majority of Manitoba kids in care do not finish high-school according to a new study out of the University of Manitoba.
Researchers at the U of M examined the educational outcomes of the more than 10,000 children currently in care of Child and Family Services and found that only 33 per cent of children in care graduated high school compared to 89 percent of children who’ve never come in contact with the system.
“This should be a major concern for Manitobans,” said Dr. Marni Brownell, one of the study’s authors. “We found children in care do more poorly than kids who’ve never been in care.”
Researchers used anonymous school performance records, birth outcomes and CFS histories to find out more about the struggles children in care face.
When it comes to academic performance, only 49 per cent of children in care were competent in Grade 3 math. That is compared to 60 per cent for children who have received CFS help but were never in care and 80 per cent of children who have had no contact with CFS.
Over one in every five First Nations kids in the province spends time in care before their 15th birthday.
Rachel Willan says she was first put into the system when she was four years old and says she lived in at least 40 different foster homes.
“I was never in a placement long enough to get used to a school,” said Willan.
By age 15 Willan says she was pregnant, and by age 30 five of her own kids were placed in care. She has successfully fought to get them back and says she is now fighting to give them something she says she never had.
“Education is so paramount,” said Willan, who is now studying for a diploma in social work.
Researchers say Manitoba has one of the highest rates of kids in care ‘in the world’ and that the disadvantages for many, start at a very early age. It’s recommending more be done to attack root causes; poverty, affordable housing, parenting skills.
“Children in care tend to grow up and have their kids in care,” said Brownell, the study’s lead author. “It isn’t solving whatever problems are out there.”
In response to the study the province announced it was launching a task force into educational outcomes of kids in care. It’s to make recommendations by the end of the year.
“We want to be sure the educuation system is there for them at every step along the way,” said provincial education minister, James Allum.
The findings also show children in care were more likely to develop a developmental disability such as Autism, cognitive impairment or Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
They are also more likely to have a mental disorder such as ADHD or a mood disorder.
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