In so doing she has effectively reversed the decision of former children's minister Mary Polak and her ex-deputy Lesley du Toit, who abolished the position in 2008. Doug Hughes, currently an assistant deputy minister with the ministry’s Interior region, holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Calgary.
There has been an Accountability Deficit
There has been no single, consistent provincial accountability for case reviews. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, the provincial representative for children and youth, called for the reinstatement of the Director of Child Welfare, saying that the position was needed to oversee internal reviews of child deaths and to prevent conflicts in cases where a regional director was reviewing files in which he or she was involved. As agitated as many of you have been over the Baynes situation and numerous other cases, we could only advise you to write to the Minister of Children and Family Development or her deputy. That got you - nowhere! The Minister did not view your complaints as integral to her agenda and the deputy was an executive not inclined to involvement in individual cases being handled by regional directors. The futility that parents, friends and advocates have felt has been noted by all of us. Your complaint was that regional directors were unaccountable and were doing reviews on cases with which they themselves were involved. Case in point, the Baynes.
New Liberal Cabinet, the History of the Position and the Missing Part
With the Liberal Cabinet shuffle came new faces. We now have a new Minister at the helm of MCFD, Hon. Mary McNeil. As well, we have a new Deputy Minister in Stephen Brown. We are presently holding on to the promise that these two leaders with good reputations will affect some helpful changes to the way this Ministry discharges its responsibilities toward children, parents and families. Already these two individuals have been paying attention. They are listening. One of the people to whom they have listened is Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond who as I said, has been calling for the reinstatement of this position.
This appointment is important to us. Historically, the ministry had a Provincial Director of Child Welfare in its structure. Marilyn Hedland was the last person to hold this position. Then in 2008 the position was shut down. McNeil and her new Deputy Minister Stephen Brown recognized that something has been missing so they have revived this position with a primary responsibility to serve as a central point of contact and accountability for child welfare issues.
DOUG HUGHES – Dir of Child Welfare Will Improve Child Protection
I suppose it is still a question. Will it improve the system and the practice? It is believed that it will make a difference to us that at the MCFD office that there is someone who can ensure that standards are being followed and that there is compliance and conformity throughout the regions.
Doug Hughes was most recently an assistant deputy minister with the ministry’s Interior region. He has 25 years experience in the public service and has worked in numerous roles within the ministry including social worker, community development worker, team leader, manager and regional executive director. He has also worked closely with Métis and First Nations in the Interior on alternative approaches to service delivery to their children, families and communities. Theoretically it should make a difference to have someone with Mr. Hughes' experience in a role of this kind.
Mr. Hughes will provide oversight to child welfare practice and quality assurance as it is defined in the Child, Family and Community Service Act. This is heartening. For the past two years oversight and accountability with respect to child protection has been provided by five regional executive directors of practice as well as a director of Aboriginal services. Now, although these positions remain in place, they are with accountability to this provincial director. This is to ensure consistency of practice across the province.
Turpel-Lafond is Pleased with This Appointment
Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, the provincial representative for children and youth, who in her reports has called several times for the reinstatement of a provincial director to provide more accountability for infant deaths, is pleased with this decision. She said, "It certainly will make the work of ensuring that there's consistent and good practise and accountability for vulnerable children in care.... It will improve that system and it will allow for, I think, better reporting out to the public on how the ministry is performing its critical role .... There's quite a bit more yet to be done, but we need to definitely recognize that this is a positive move." Further she said, "This is a very positive step and I'm really delighted with it ....I think the fact there's been a reappraisal of some reports and recommendations, and that there's positive movement to accept a recommendation from my office, is certainly welcome from my side.... I think it perhaps indicates that there's a beginning of a new era with respect of oversight in the Ministry for Children and Family Development."
This is Definitely in Our Best Interests
Further, McNeil and Turpel-Lafond have met and McNeil said, "I think this is a good start ....We've talked about other things that we want to try and work on together, and I'm really looking forward to it."
It remains to be seen if this move is smoke and mirror 'artificial sweetener' pre-election posturing or the beginning of true change. One cynical comment left on a story mentioned there was no child director for 9 years and nothing has changed since except the impending election.
ReplyDeleteThe byline by itself "...respected social worker and publuc servant..." certainly is INTENDED to convey readers the appointment suggests a vast improvement of MCFD functioning.
There was one CBC comment from a former child in care who experienced 36 placements from age three to thirteen before aging out of the system -- kicked to the curb, as it was phrased. (One can have the best foster care home in the world, however if children become attached, moving them becomes that much more harmful.)
With respect to the Baynes case, the relevant phrase is "At headquarters, that can make sure that standards are beig followed, that there's compliance place to place."
Meaning, that concerns for the extraordinary span of times involved in their case, they and other parents like them can ask for explanations as to the reason for these delays and how these can be resolved.
If they even get a response, this would be a sign of progress.
We have seen several attempts to improve things with administrative and legislative changes. In the past the result has been more disruption and chaos. Ie Gove. One lesson has never been learned. You cannot solve problems which are not of a legal or administrative nature by legal and administrative changes. It is done because it is all anyone in power knows how to do. This will not correct the adversarial and secretive culture, which has prvailed for 30 years.
ReplyDeleteWhat is needed is a good core training in the skills of social work applied to child protection. We saw this lack of training right throughout the Bayne case. We also saw a totally different level of practice during the investigation which cleared the issue of Baden's bone development. Thank heavans the social worker did a great job. These skills are lacking because there are very few people who can define them or teach them. I could mention a dozen things that the new director could change, but his task would be Herculean and akin to cleaning the Augean stables.
A note to yesterday's last blogger. Nobody is suggesting the nurses were unkind or rough. The evidence clearly shows that the leg injury to the baby coincided with the day she underwent a diagnostic procedure where the nurse had to hold her very firmly and stretch her legs. The injury was consistent with this. The nurse was just doing her job and was no more firm than she needed to be. As a famous American said "stuff happens."
Ray,
ReplyDeleteI think a great deal could be fixed via legal means, via lawsuits that bring justice to parties that have been wronged. Without justice, there is no accountability. If the social workers and directors, and all the other people who are responsible, were actually sued and paid a price - for example, financially - they would definately think twice about their behavior.
Lawsuits are definately a deterrent, so legal means would work, except the gutless justice system refuses to be just. These judges that are doing such great harm, they should be held responsible. They should lose their jobs. Why should I pay for a judge to tear apart families? That is the last thing I want my tax dollars paying for. It is horrible to think that my money is being used to destroy the Baynes and other families.
And none of us should forget this: if it wasn't for our money, none of this would be happening, because Judge Crabtree, Bruce McNeil, Loren Humeny, and all the others responsible here do not get one single nickel of their money from anywhere else but the taxpayers.
The ministry in Kelowna and interior is a corrupt unjust and over all horrible group of individuals. Wild west justice, lack of caring for the children. Trying to contact one of these people is a joking, if you recieve a call back you are lucky, after consistantly leaving a message for a week I still have not heard back from them.
ReplyDeleteWe had the same problem with lack of proper communication from the Kelowna Ministry of children & family developement, until we took them to court and inforced our Grand Parents Rights.
DeleteWe would do again in a hearbeat!
Watch out for Tammy Peterson social worker & team leader Cheryl Beauchamp.
We the taxpayers are paying the goverment employees saleries all of them are nothing than our employees
Tammy Peterson social worker with the Kelowna ministry was given confidential information and used it to drive a wedge in the family. In my opinion she has conducted herself as a bias civil servant in our family's situation
DeleteWe will never confide in her again as we feel betrayed by her.
Out experience of Ministry of Kelowna's staff Beth Flynn,Cheryl Beauchamp & Tammy Peterson is that their Mantra is Delay,Deflect,Deceive & Deny. Words and actions are inconguent with the Minisry's rules regulations and internal policy.We regard each one of them in our family's case have abused their power and giving themselves the reputation of being the matriachs of family destruction and child misery truly guilty of the practiced of family developement family developement.The 3 social workers have used divide and conquer tactics.They have not taken care of the child's best interests at all times.
DeleteIn our opinion is that Beth Fynn Community Sevices Manager, Cheryl Beauchamp & Tammy Peterson need to be investigated by the Supreme Court and court of public opinion and exposed for their bias conduct.
There is more than your family complaining in Kelowna about Beth Flynn Community Services Manager mangement of her underlinks Team leader Cheryl Beauchamp and Tammy Perterson behavior.The Regional director Barry Fulton is just as guilty as he does not return calls in a timely fashion.Our question is What is Doug Hughes going to be doing about the behavior of the MCFD lower employee in his chain of command????
DeleteThe person who wrote this is Susanne Ackerman
DeleteSusan Ackerman, what is that you say here that you wrote. Please identify. Thanks.
DeleteI hear you Kelowna MCFD critic,
ReplyDeleteIt's a systematic failing. Same here in the lower mainland.
Parents may not heart anything for weeks.
Do The social workers in the Kelowna offices follow the internal policies? do they do their investigations within the specificed time?
DeleteDo they issue letters of their findings within the pescibed time.Does the Director & Deputy Director what they are doing?Is the best interests of the child their of primary concern?
Why is ther still a problem?
The problem is that the complaints travel up and down the chain of command and each one passes the buck. The Ombudsman and the Dispute Consultants have no decision making power.
DeleteIt apppears it is time to take the issue of the systematic failing of parents & grandparents untimely & improper communication with MCFD further.
ReplyDeleteIs the MCFD higher chain of command knowledgeable about the employees on the lower levels day to day activites dealing with parents & grandparents?
Are the employees on the bottom steps of the ladder competency under consistant review by the Director of Child Welfare? and Stephen Brown Deputy Minister & Minster Mary McNeil.
Are the Taxpayers employees truly concerned about the child's best interests or is it their game of power & control when it comes to timely and proper comunication with their parents and & grandparents?
Time to hold them all accountable especially those on the lower end of the hierarchy as those are the employees we as parents & grandparents should be hearing from in a timely and well informative fashion.
It appears only the Courts hold them accountable.
We need to be heard! Any suggestions?
Supreme Court & all forms of the Media is the answer when the Ministry does not abide by the The Child,Family Community Services Act.
ReplyDeleteThere is no accountability. The MCFD does what it wants, says what it wants regardless of facts or inuendos. There is no respect for anyone in the system and they hide behind their, "in the best interest of the child", statement, which should in fact be, in the best interest of the worker.
ReplyDeleteConnie Van de Gulik social worker is doing what is in her best interest in our family case. Kelowna Ministry worker and team leader have shown no respect or adhereance to the law for Grand Parents Rights or to our present Court Order to have reasonable access to our Grandchild .Connie Van de Gurlik does not uphold ALL requirements of the Ministry`s internal policies or All the requirements of The Child,Family Community Services Act with the respect of acting in the best interest of the child especially regarding her culural religious and heritage rights.
DeleteOur grandchild is being deprived of our loving & caring relationship.Connie`s behavior gives us no choice other than going back to court to hold The Kelowna Ministry accountable.
To join the club if you wish to hold Kelowna's incompetent social workers accountable.Please post
DeleteThe best interests of the social workers and all the other subsiduaries beneficeries like daycare,mediation, etc in our our family's case are being prolonged to keep the taxpayer supporting a case that is certainly "Not in the Best Interests of the Child", especially where their is a loving caring family and money to provide for the child.The time taken and money spent by the Ministry in our family's case has been and still is totally wasteful.It appears to us that the more spent on each case the more The Kelowna Ministry can be applied for, for the following year budget.We the tax payers are paying for Ministry of Kelowna inefficient system of keeping family's on their books by not doing their investigations and providing a written report of the findings in the specified time.It is high time the Child Welfare Minister understood what the some incompetent social workers are doing.Our family's case of a marital divorce has been totally mismanged by incompetent Ministry employees.We have come to the point that to have them out of our lives leaves us little choice other than to take them to court which again will be wasting taxpayers money to pay for Judge's and all the Ministry workers time.Watch out if you are involved with the Kelowna Ministry as they will keep you in their clutches to pay themselves and all professionals involved to secure their jobs. Young parents Beware and be very careful when the Ministry ask you to sign on the dotted line and know your legal rights when signing a Supervision Order.
DeleteThanks for the comment Anon Nov 17 5:41 AM
DeleteI am sure that your family's case has been a trial of all your patience and stamina, and an unspeakable heartache.
While you have written your comment to a well dated blog post .... I will remind you that some info in my post is old. A Cabinet Shuffle took place this year. Stephanie Cadiuex is now Minister of MCFD. Whether or not she has retained Hughes, I am uncertain.
So true. It's Foster Parent Appreciation month. Too bad those poor souls work so hard and are ill treated by Social workers with no respect for the job that they do. No accountability as usual for the social workers, but lots for everyone else.
ReplyDeleteInstead of rearranging the top end to create another layer of bureaucracy in the chain of command to improve efficiency at the cost of the tax payer, it is about time that the people at the top educated themselves of what the people in the lowest end of the chain of command are doing in the day to dealings with Children and families.It is high time to make a clean sweep and rid the Ministry of all the incompetent, power hungry, lazy social workers who are destroying families with their Delay,Deceive,Deflect and Deny tactics which is especially relevant in the Kelowna offices.The Kelowna Ministry is a prime example of inefficentcy.The incompetent social workers and the supportive Kelowna court system make sure the tax payers have very high bill to pay each year.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the above post. This is so true. The upper part of the Kelowna MCFD and up the ladder to Mr. Hughes, is not cognizant or chooses to ignore the inefficiency, abuse of power, and the non concern for the children in care on how these social workers conduct themselves. There has to be more of a public lense put on these people. It is no secret that Kelowna has one of the, if not the worse reputations, for incompetent and abusive workers. The children are the ones who suffer because of their (SW) selfish, serving egos. Is it not time for, as the above person, who has commented, that a clean sweep be made and for the benefit of the children who are in care or come into care, these workers are taken to task and monitored.
ReplyDeleteIf the public knew of only 5% of the actions of these workers, there would be an outcry that would garner much attention from all forms of media. Time to take some of this to reputable news outlets.
The Kelowna child and Family services is so corrupt, I am baffled as to why these women are still there. They have done more harm to children. Telling lies and getting away with it. Any complaints made against them is to no avail. In fact they find it amusing when you threaten to report them because they know nothing will be done. They have hurt children for years and continue to do so. Filing a complaint about them does no good they do whatever they want to whoever they like to. They don't care about the harm they are doing to a children. The only concern they have is flaunting their power and taking control of peoples lives and justifying their actions by whatever means they want to.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon your Honour
My name is Karrissa Wilson, I am 29 years old and live in Kelowna BC.
In the beginning of June MCFD Kelowna, Lucy Herman came to my home and removed my son without even investigating or speaking with me. When she came to my home my four year old son Landon and myself were eating a healthy lunch and watching cartoons. Since his removal I have seen my baby boy a total of four times since he got places with my in laws four months ago. Yes there was some need for help by them and I would have done everything asked of me to make things right. I had recently got out of my very abusive marriage and yes my son did get damaged from the abuse he witnessed, I NEVER abused my son he was NEVER neglected always had good food a good home and tonnes of love. Since he was removed I have been seeing a psychologist I am in parenting classes, I am in the womans DEW program and also I am seeing an abuse counsellor to deal with the scars of my marriage. The day after his removal I went down to MCFD office to speak with Mrs Herman, I asked her what is it I need to do to get my son back, I stated I will do whatever I need to do, she offered me NOTHING. She has now sent my son to her child and youth mental health "professional" and now they are saying I am to have NO CONTACT with my son for a period of 4 to 6 months.
This is NOT in the "BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD" My son and I have or at least prior to the last four months had a bond, It was me who kissed his boo boos it was me who read him bed time stories, I baked with him, I taught him to ride his bicycle, I said prayers with him everynight, and now they have taken that away from him and wonder why he is acting out severely.
If the choice is left up to this one social worker, I will never get my son back. As a matter of fact I went to speak with her last Friday, I showed her everything I am doing and explained how wrong what they are trying to do to my little boy is and how much more this is damaging him, and so she threatened adoption and that word got brought up an additional three times.
Please PLEASE, if there is anything you can do please help me!
Why should tax payers be paying a stranger to raise my son when he has a Mother who would go to the ends of the earth for him? Why not give me the services to help my son and I? as oppose to a stranger, who doesn't even love him?
Oct 3, 2013 UPDATE
I have since gone to the Child and youth mental health worker who Lucy said was recommending a 4 to 6 month no contact between my son and I. She has informed me this is not her position and that she would find it most beneficial to work with my son and I both if reunification was the plan, which fully contradicts Lucy's quoted statement last week that the Mental health worker would not work with my son if I were involved.
Please help me, I have contacted the MCFD complaint people and the representatives of youth in care, however I am spinning my wheels getting nowhere.
Karrissa Wilson
Karrissa Wilson
kwil1@live.ca
However I have found her supervisor Cheryl, to be more so to the compassionate side, and was open to the idea of reuniting my son and I. No human being in they're right mind or at least with a heart and soul would keep a mother who very obviously loves her son, away from him. It makes no sense, I have gone above and beyond what I believe MCFD would even ask of me.
ReplyDeleteIf there is anyone out there who can help me or support me please contact me kwil1@live.ca
FYI this is a letter I have written to the honorable MCF minister
whats next ombudsman? the news? he hasn't even seen his grandmother but once in five months grandpa twice, they spoke with my son all the time and have been apart of his life since the beginning.
I will never give up never HOPE hold on pain ends!!
My kids have been apperhened by MCFD Friday August 29 2014
ReplyDeletemy son fell at home Thursday morning August 28 2014 then I took him to daycare when we picked him up at daycare Thursday afternoon his ear is all bruised and the daycare said he fell on toys after he put his foot in a toy basket the caregiver admitted that he got the burise from the fell
When they appeherened children are they suppose to have a police officer with them at the home two social workers where at my home when I was at the hospital with my son and my daughter was a home with my bf and a social worker took my daughter into her by herself and was examined with out a female worker present or a police officer In that room my bf was push away when he tryed to stop it my daughter didn't come out of that room for about ten to twenty mins when she did my bf said she had a sacred horrifying look on her face and hug his leg tightly
Plus I have a video from that morning showing son was fine that morning after he fell at home showing no bruises anywhere!
Now I go back to court on the 18th of September
MCFD is asking for a three month custody order
Im fighting it and asking the children to be returned to me because MCFD told the judge they believe that the parent didn't harm the children they believe someone else has now there s a big investigation into the daycare to me there are going to drag it through court very slowly because they need more time
The children remain in custody till next Spring
Because police haven't finished there investigation the ministry doesn't know who harmed the child My judgment with not pulling my son out of that daycare sooner My judgement from serious injures to a non serious injure to the children I have been label has a special needs mom
no one wants to listen to me the Ombudsperson even turned me down so did MLA the head office of MCFD I would never let anyone harm my childern
this happened in the CRESTON VALLEY B.C.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI have sent you a private message thank you
DeleteI see alot of comments about Kelowna Ministry espcially the Name Tammy Peterson...If ANYONE has had issues with this person I'd love to hear from you ASAP. I'm helping daughter fight for justice of her daughter who now has been molested 4 times and abused by her father. Tammy Peterson LIED to my daughters lawyer causing the lawyer to quit 2 mins before entering the court room. Ms Peterson has LIED to all the services we have tried to get involved to protect this child. Ms Peterson who was contacted by the childs mother to HELP protect her child turned to the Molesters side and said there was NO issue...Even though Ms Peterson admitted to the childs mother she's aware of the fathers past abuse and violence and even have him on file that he's SLEPT with UNDERAGED girls but she feels there's no Issue. After promising a referal to Stepping stones for the child to get help Mother finds out it'[s NOT to help the child over the attacks it's to build bridges with the child to her MOLESTING father. We've had two counsellors confirm child has been attacked. Dr's report Dr himself called the RCMP after her last attacke 2 wks ago stating there was evidence of trauma down there. Yet NOTHING.... so any one who is still reading this post who has anything to say about this woman MS TAMMY PETERSON pls contact me I'm trying to fight this not only for my own grandchild but for other kids that are suffering due to the lack of help from these Lazy pathetic so called professionals... designdi@hotmail.com Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSince I posted this LIFE changed...... Thanks to MS PETERSON..... Family court trial August 18th.............My life was ruined..... August 14th Ms Peterson contacted my daughter mother of the child......told her she HAD TO LEAVE the house there and then or lose both her kids.......I had NO clue. Daughter and I co rented a home. I had been helping daughter raise the child in question for 5 yrs........... SO this is what happened
DeleteAt trial......All witnesses were turned away including a Dr......I wasn't even allowed at court........It appears my good name was DRAGGED through the mud.... LIes....... OUT come father got the child........ MCFD have him on file....so do the POLICE......they knowabout his abusive past against woman..........they know he has had sex with underage girl........even producing a child with one when she was ONLY 15 he was in his mid 20s
My granddaughter is NOW in his care he's the primary parent.....The bastard even served me with a restraining order last week.......banning me from a child I helped raise......and helped pay for........NOT HIM...........
SO you call contact the media...Lawyers.........many organisations NOTHING......
I will be homeless in 10 days........on a disability so can't afford a place of my own.......everthing I own will have to go......... SO MCFD and TAMMY PETERSON.........destroyed MY life..............
I figured with all he media attention doing the Exact same thing to another mother would ring alarm bells.............so lets go after the grandmother she's disposable.....
Do these ppl enjoy what they do........They NEVER investigated his situation........they just put HURDLES to prevent this child getting the help and justice she deserved...
Police were lazy.............Yes he finally AFTER 11 mths took a Polygraph........yes he passed........but I SWEAR he knew what he was doing........He first go a defense lawyer......DELAYED the Poly.............so he could find away to pass..............POLICE hate this guy as he always finds away to get off...
The judge in the original case.......Judge Burdett...........2 yrs prior put in place PROTECTION orders for the child.........took away his access to his rights.........stil gave him SUPERVISED visitation...... Yet a yr later states...... ITS GOING TO TRIAL.........Informing the mother.......YOU WILL LOSE your child......WOW.........MCFD chased off the last lawyer .......
I have all the proof I have a copy of the ministry file..........I even have a email from daughters last lawyer......I tricked her pushed a button.......Showing she quit because she Knew the mothe would lose the child..............
If there is anyone reading this my email is above...................
Mr. Doug Hughes is no longer in the position he held with MCFD, but is now B.C. Assistant Deputy Minister of Health Doug Hughes …http://www.bccare.ca/20849-2/
ReplyDeleteUpdate to my previous posts. Now a yr after the corrupt trial removal of the child lives ruined. This nana is now being harrassed further now RCMP have opened a file on myself accusing me of abusing the child in the most vile way. They are just trying to shut me up I have the file I have documented proof of all I state. But trying to find help ugh. I won't stop. Anyone who can help willing to show and expose this office pls email me. designdi@hotmail.com. Head it kelowna Mcfd. In case it goes to junk mail. I've sent out hundreds of emails. Unanswered. But if we are a group just maybe. Thank you
ReplyDeletei am with you all the way as my children and i have gone throught a similar situation and i agree as a group we might be able to fix things expose them and stop them from continuing to destroy families and childrens lives if you really want to do this please contact me i will fight with you all the way only ask you to do the same i dont have regular access to email and my cell was stollen two days ago and wont be able to repace it till after the 15th of jan 2017 but if you want you are more than we3lcome to come to my home 1585 stafford rd in rutland kelowna b.c. or if it is between 10am-7pm you can come to my place of work LAURIER MANNOR 1024 LAURIER AVENUE my name is John
ReplyDeleteJohn Dunn, Dear John ... perhaps you did not realize that you were responding to a post that is dated in 2011. It’s history. Doug Hughes is long gone. Turpel-Lafond is gone. Many changes have occurred in 5 and 6 years. Unfortunately, casualties still occur within a bureaucracy like MCFD for so many reasons. I appreciate your spirit and willingness to be involved in some measure to fix what we subjectively assume is wrong with a system. However, I have realized that all that we do, brings temporary awareness to individual stories but does not fix the system. Those in power must see the problems and change things. As to further contact with you, I do not live close to you, nor am I involved in any individual cases any longer. I wish you well as you continue your own pursuit of justice.
ReplyDelete