Children in Care
B.C. ends ‘birth alert’ practice used to separate newborns from moms in child welfare cases
By Simon Little Online Journalist
“Birth alerts” allow social services to contact health officials when they have concerns about a baby’s safety, potentially leading to seizure of the child. Continue reading
Hundreds of former youth in provincial care take advantage of B.C. government’s tuition waiver
By Richard Zussman Online Journalist based at B.C. Legislature
The provincial tuition waiver program allows post-secondary institutions to waive tuition fees for children who were in care. Continue reading
Liberals introduce bill to help curb number of Indigenous children in foster care
National Chief Perry Bellegarde of the Assembly of First Nations says the number of First Nations children in care — over 40,000 — is a human rights crisis. Continue reading
‘CFS did not complete any long-term planning’: report on death of Manitoba teen in care
Manitoba’s advocate for children and youth says a girl who suffered repeated sexual abuse and died of a drug overdose was failed over and over again by the province’s child welfare system. Continue reading
B.C. social worker accused of stealing from kids in Ministry care
By Kimberly Davidson Anchor/Reporter
The documents allege the social worker opened a joint bank account with the youth and took money from the benefits for his own purposes. Continue reading
Jennifer Charlesworth expected to be B.C.’s next children’s watchdog
By Richard Zussman Online Journalist based at B.C. Legislature
An all-party special committee struck to appoint a new Representative for Children and Youth has unanimously recommended Jennifer Charlesworth for the job. Continue reading
B.C. children’s representative ‘concerned’ about staffing at care homes
By Richard Zussman Online Journalist based at B.C. Legislature
B.C.’s Ministry of Children and Family Development has closed a major group home for children in care because of concerns about staff behaviour. Continue reading
B.C. Green MLA wants changes to how child welfare system handles Indigenous cases
A BC Green MLA says the case of an Indigenous woman’s baby being apprehended by the Ministry of Children and Family Development highlights that the system needs to change. Continue reading
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Manitoba government still working on finishing list CFS recommendations from Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry
By Amber McGuckin Reporter
It’s been more than four years since the inquiry into the death of Phoenix Sinclair. Continue reading
Children’s watchdog warns adoptions lagging in B.C.
Just 84 children were adopted during the first six months of this fiscal year, compared to 104 the year before. Continue reading