Enjoy the Long Weekend

A post will appear on Monday morning and remember that is one day prior to Josiah's permanent return to the custody of his parents, Paul and Zabeth Bayne.

TIM AMEY'S CHILLIWACK NEWS ARTICLE / 585

This appeared on the ‘My Chilliwack News’ webpage this week. Tim Amey is the News Director at 895 The Hawk, Chilliwack's Newest Rock Station. Tim Amey has written articles featuring the Bayne family before. He spoke with Zabeth this week and posted the following finishing story. He thoughtfully sent me the link for which I then requested permission to re-publish here. He writes, "A four year ordeal for a former Hope couple is over. Paul and Zabeth Bayne are finally getting their kids back."

I WILL BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE IT / 584

We have celebrated the news that Paul and Zabeth will have their children returned to them in August, beginning with the Aug. 2nd homecoming of Josiah, the five month old boy who was removed from Zabeth four hours after he was born in February of this year. Then on August 25th the arrival of Kent, Baden and Bethany will represent the restoration of family life. That is what the case worker has promised Paul and Zabeth. He gave permission to the Baynes to inform their own children about this event and that was done last week. That was when we could cooperatively go public with this news. However, .................. forget the however, first of all ................

THE COSTS OF THE BAYNE CASE / 583

The following article is written by Ray Ferris, retired social worker and author of 'The Art of Child Protection' and decided critic of the way the Ministry of Children and Family Development handled the case of Paul and Zabeth Bayne and their children for the past four years. Here he tells us what the estimated costs have been.

How can one even begin to measure the costs of the Bayne case? Do we count the number of hot, salty tears shed by the anguished parents, or those shed by the terrified children when they were dragged from that birthday party? Do we count how many aching heartbeats there were over the years? Do we count the emotional damage to the children caused by spending vital years in constant turmoil and uncertainty? Can we put a price on the horror felt by the many of the supporters at each fresh cruelty and indignity? Doug Christie was one person who paid a high price. It was not just the time he gave, when he could have been doing paid work, because that to him is a minor matter. No, it was the emotional toll it took when he could see the injustice unfolding and the suffering of the family. He was getting to the point where he couldn’t take it any more. All these costs will resonate with the readers of the Ron Unruh blog, but I doubt whether they will cause the least little bit of bother to the likes of director McNeill, his sidekick, John Fitzsimmons, or Loren Humeny, the social worker who tried to ban breast milk for a newborn infant. Was Judge Thomas Crabtree even able to get his head out of process and precedent for long enough to take a serious look at the human cost? He turned a blind eye to the guidelines of the act and anything else that did not fit into his concept of cold blooded justice.

TOMORROW - NEW POST BY RAY FERRIS

THE COST OF THE BAYNE CASE
That's what my guest writer Ray Ferris will write about tomorrow. Stop by and read the staggering costs incurred by this Ministry of Children.

THE CHILDREN ARE COMING HOME / 582

YES, YOU ARE READING IT CORRECTLY!

THE CHILDREN ARE BEING RETURNED TO PAUL AND ZABETH.

REJOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Josiah - a June 2011 photo

While I was informed some weeks ago, under instructions from the Ministry it was to remain confidential until yesterday. Well, yesterday was Zabeth's Birthday, coincidence but what a great way to celebrate. They were able to inform their children that this anticipated event was now official. They have been for some time enjoying unsupervised visitation and overnights with the children. The course of action developed by the area office is a kind of incremental return. Baby Josiah will come home first so that Paul and Zabeth can adjust to caring full-time for their youngest child, now five months old. Kent (7), Baden (6) and Bethany (3) come home three weeks later. Here is a comment from Zabeth herself.

"Wow!!! Thanks so much everyone. Thank you for all your birthday wishes - I sure feel special:) We had a beautiful day and it started by waking up with our baby Josiah beside us! Also we were able to tell our children today that they are really coming home! On Aug 2 Josiah will be returned to us and on Aug 25 our older three will be returned! We will remember this day forever."

So that is the timetable for the return. August 2nd Josiah. Kent, Baden, and Bethany August 25th.
We are very happy for this family.

ZABETH BAYNE'S BIRTHDAY TODAY

Happy Birthday Zabeth. It's getting happier all the time isn't it?

CAN'T WE HAVE AN HONOURABLE MINISTRY OF CHILDREN? /

When the Ministry of Children and Family Development regional offices consistently fail to comply with some details of the Child, Family and Community Services Act that safeguard the rights of parents and caregivers, is that tantamount to insurgence? Shouldn’t citizens make a loud noise of protest?

When the MCFD appears eager to do what is right and to act in the best interests of the child, but in fact comes up short, and when the Ministry presents itself to the Legislature as scrupulous when in fact it repeatedly violates the Act, why should the province trust it?

THE MCFD GUIDANCE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS /

What I am coming to believe is that many social workers do not know what is expected of them as they perform their work. Most of them have entered their careers with honourable intentions to help people, seniors, adults, children and families. Those social workers who choose to go into child protection are motivated to enable families and to protect children.

When case after case surfaces wherein the action of the social worker is challenged by parents and it becomes clear that such action is contestable because it flies in the face of reasonable, objective, social work practice, the guidance system has malfunctioned.

THE COVER IS COMING OFF

This morning Derek Hoare, whose daughter Ayn was removed from school by the Ministry of Children and Family Development several weeks ago, wrote this paragraph on the Facebook page bearing the title, 'Help Bring Little Autistic Girl Back to Daddy."

Can everyone imagine for a moment that you personally lived in a world where as you went about your day, you knew that at any moment... be it at home, work in school... people could come and grab you and forcibly put you in a vehicle and drive you to a big building where you were isolated and confined with strangers forcing medications on you, trying to draw blood from you, ECG's, scales, poking and prodding. They would not tell you were your family was or your family where you were, you were trapped and drugged by the will of another, a stranger, someone who doesn't even know you. And if you get upset... well then they drug you more with powerful doses enough to inundate you with lethargy. That is now reality for my daughter she will live with that knowledge for years.... for years this will remain a possibility in her mind. Many do not believe that it is possible... she KNOWS it does.

Listen now at 11:30 AM

Listen to Derek Right Now with Bill Good

It's 7:28 PM now. The Interview was well done by Bill and Derek.
If you would like to listen now Click this link... http://www.cknw.com/other/​audiovault.html. When on site at CKNW 980 note the Time Window and place 11am there, that is the time of the Bill Good Show. When your software begins the audio replay of the show, move the horizontal time bar to 32:44 which would be 32 minutes into the show.

A FATHER’S FIGHT TO GET HIS DAUGHTER BACK
DEREK HOARE, FIGHTING TO GET HIS 9 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AYN BACK

CHRIS MCINTOSH, CO-FOUNDER, FAMILIES FOR AUTISM INTERVENTION RESOURCES (FAIR)

And Kari Simpson interviewed Derek via phone on the Road Kill Radio Show.

ZABETH ON RADIO WITH KARI SIMPSON TONIGHT / 577

Prologue to the day: Derek Hoare is doing a phone-in interview at 11:30 AM this morning on The Bill Good Show CKNW News-Talk/980 . You can also listen live here www.cknw.com at 11:30 am pacific time.


Further, I want to let you know that Zabeth Bayne will be interviewed tonight by Kari Simpson and the live radio broadcast can be watched and heard on radio program with the interesting name Road Kill Radio. That is tonight, July 19 at 7:30 – 9:30 PM. This time the interview is not about Zabeth's own family per se, but about the ambitious Conference that she and her husband Paul and some associates have organized. This is the Evidence Based Medicine and Social Investigation Conference scheduled for August 4-6, 2011. During this interview, one of the presenters will join the conversation by telephone.

Derek with Bill Good tomorrow at 11:30 AM

Derek Hoare is doing a phone in interview at 11:30 tomorrow morning on The Bill Good Show CKNW News-Talk/980 .  You can also listen live here www.cknw.com 11:30 am pacific time. 

Please contact Derek Hoare directly at 

Derek Hoare iconoclast_ensues@yahoo.com 904-HELP AYN 904-435-7296

DRUGS CAN'T STOP THE TEARS / 576

Daddy Paul and Bethany

The Baynes are working with the Surrey office of MCFD and we are believing that the outcome will be positive with an imminent return of their four children to their care, their home, and their lives of love. Only excellent parents such as they are could possibly endure what they have for what is now, almost four years of deprivation – dispossession of their own offspring. Even while they wait and work, they are sympathetic to other parents who are similarly struggling with the heartache of a child removed by the Ministry of Children. No one wants to mistrust a Ministry that in theory is protective of children. Yet when a steady stream of complainants against MCFD actions are parents who are by all reports sound-minded, stable, committed and lovingly responsible, observers with common sense must deduce that there is something seriously flawed in the practice of protecting children. In British Columbia the fault line lies in connection with the Child, Family and Community Services Act, with the way that it is written, with the ways by which it is interpreted and certainly through the manner in which it is applied by directors, team leaders and social workers who service cases.

SHE SHOULD BE IN HIS ARMS

Does the Ministry of Children and Family Development understand Autism?

Whatever informed expertise there is within MCFD, it has not been communicated to front line workers and their supervisors who are making unreasonable decisions about autistic children.

Taking a child away from an attendant and proficient father as MCFD have done with 9 year old Ayn was pointless, reactionary, excessive and injurious. The adjectives are entirely appropriate for this stupid social worker action.

Instead of the Ministry providing practical, actionable information and financial assistance and affirming support to parents like Derek Hoare, the Ministry disciplines with severity when an autistic child does what comes naturally – wanders. And the manner by which the Ministry manages that tendency consists of seizing the girl and pumping drugs into her. The enormity of this offense defies expression with words. For the first eighteen days of her captivity she has daily wept. A nine year old girl should not be subjected to that. That is not in her best interests. If she cried every day while in the care of her dad and the Ministry heard about that, it would assume abuse or neglect. The reading public of this blog and of other news sources that carry the story readily associate the Ministry’s actions as abuse of their mandate. Citizens should be able to assume that Ministry personnel are intelligent, copiously prepared and fully informed about autism before they interfere with parental care of autistic children who are loved and cherished within their families. We are regularly supplied with reasons for disbelieving that. Not least of which is this distasteful harm done to a sweet girl who must now cling to a photograph of her dad holding her in his arms.

She should be in his arms.

Hon. Mary McNeil and Hon. Christy Clark, you must give attention to this case certainly, but beyond this single case, to the conduct of this Ministry challenged with responsibility for which it appears at so many levels to be incapable of satisfying. You have to turn this around for the sake of the people who have elected you to serve and to help us.

Please contact Derek Hoare directly at 

Derek Hoare iconoclast_ensues@yahoo.com 904-HELP AYN 904-435-7296

CHRIS GAILUS GLOBAL NEWS TONIGHT

Global has done it again. Tonight in back to back stories, Chris Gailus introduced the news that MCFD has been under-reporting the large number of children hurt while in foster care. It is scandalous and Children's Representative expressed her dismay. The Ministry of Children deemed many of these cases not deserving of reporting to her. The second story concerned none other than 9 year-old Ayn, the autistic daughter of Derek Hoare. Derek was able to speak again. The report was superior coverage. Now Premier Christy Clark is fully apprised of the unpleasant news about MCFD's low-grade performance in the child protection sector. Derek, you are a valiant Dad.

Please contact Derek Hoare directly at 

Derek Hoare iconoclast_ensues@yahoo.com 904-HELP AYN 904-435-7296

AYN’S STORY WENT GLOBAL / 573

In a quality news story, Global TV with Ted Chernecki aired Ayn Van Dyk’s plaintiff story and her father Derek Hoare had opportunity to express reoccurring criticisms about the practice of the Ministry of Children. This is Ayn’s story, Ayn pronounced Eyen. Ayn is Derek’s nine year old daughter who has been removed by the Ministry of Children. (Sound quality is poor for the first few seconds)

THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY / 572

Wendy Gailey Atkins web photo

Then occasionally people like Paul and Zabeth Bayne and Derek Hoare come along to wrest our attention. Something has happened to their families that has interrupted their family routine and happiness. Oh but much worse than that, this occurrence has introduced a horror and an unrelenting panic against which they are virtually powerless.  

QUICK AUTISM PRIMER & APPLICATION TO AYN VANDYK / 571

Image borrowed from http://www.autismspeaks.org/

(The Bayne family continues to be my primary cause on this blog, but while their case moves toward resolution, I am unable to ignore the pain experienced by other families when MCFD mismanages its mandate. Hence, this week I have majored on Derek and Ayn. Ayn is autistic. She wandered from home. She was found. Days later MCFD removed her from home.)
 
For the uninitiated Autism is characterized, by a triad of social impairments, namely impairment of social recognition, of social communication, and of social understanding and imagination, or stated as three types of disability:

·        Rigidity of thought and behaviour, and limited imagination or imaginative play where the individual may carry out ritualistic actions, or focus upon minor details (such as an item of clothing rather than the person, or part of a toy rather than the whole thing);

·        Limited verbal and non-verbal communication with a lack of true two-way conversational skills, a failure to understand the emotions, gestures, or ideas of others, and an over-literalness in interpreting what is said;

·        Difficulty with social relationships, with an appearance of aloofness or indifference, and with inappropriate or repetitive styles of approach if contact is initiated.

DEREK HOARE'S SISTERS SPEAKS OUT FOR HIM / 570

photo: Derek and Moy -  happier times

Derek Hoare's Facebook Page entitled Help Bring Little Autistic Girl Back to her Daddy has acquired a support network of 2536 members within a few days, three more added while I place this blog post online. Everyone is sending Derek's story and related links to their friends. Derek's sisters Moy and Mandy have written both an appeal and a support note below (printed with her permission).

"My name is Moy Harries and Derek Hoare is my younger brother. I am writing this letter in support of my niece, Ayn returning home as soon as possible.

I don’t know a more dedicated and loving parent than my brother, Derek. I would challenge anyone to trade their life for even a day with my brother. He has truly given his life to helping his children’s special needs. Anyone who meets my brother easily sees his deep devotion for his children. I have never once heard Derek complain or wish his life different. In the last 11 years, Derek’s children have continued to thrive, develop and grow despite all odds. Derek has studied, researched and worked hard toward teaching all his children as best able and this is evident in seeing his children today vs. 10 years ago. Derek’s children are bright, funny, happy little souls and I love them all dearly.

THE WANDERING TENDENCY OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN LIKE AYN / 569

Ayn with some stuffed toys

An autistic child knows where he or she wants to go but lacks the words to tell you, so often simply takes off. A child like Ayn with this developmental disorder, a severe form of autism, has difficulty communicating and socializing. A dangerous aspect of autism is the tendency to run away from home or adult supervision. It causes endless stress for parents. And in Derek Hoare’s case, it has caused the removal of his daughter Ayn from his home and custody.

The MCFD employees that have taken her believe they have done something in the child’s best interest, but the action has simply created the most unnecessary and vicious wounds to a fragile mind and psyche.

DEREK HOARE AND THE WIDENING SUPPORT NETWORK / 568

Ayn

Derek lives in Abbotsford. Derek Hoare is a well spoken and articulate man who is missing his daughter. Actually, that’s how this family horror began. She went missing from his house – just wandered off. Within four hours she was found. Days later she went missing from her school – this time because the Ministry of Children and Family Development removed her. I have told you his story in previous posts.

Now I want you to read his own coherent account.

Perhaps over this weekend you can read a bit more about his family and then join a rapidly growing movement, populated significantly by other parents of autistic children. This movement is rallying to insist upon the return of his child. These supporters understand the never-ending challenges of caring for autistic offspring and the dedication required to do it well. They also understand that brief disappearances are standard behaviour. Parents do not require intervention. That is not help. That is not development. MCFD has justified the action of its social workers but it is unacceptable to the rest of us, deplorable, intolerable. You may want to acquaint yourself with Derek Hoare and his ten year old daughter Ayn who is autistic and instead of being at home with daddy is being held within the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development but not for any acceptable or justifiable reason now.

Please contact Derek Hoare directly at 

Derek Hoare iconoclast_ensues@yahoo.com 904-HELP AYN 904-435-7296

AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE – PART 5of5 / 567

Ray Ferris retired after a career that included significant years with the MCFD and Ray has written a book entitled 'The Art of Child Protection.' Ray has been my guest writer for this five-part series of GPS posts.  Here is the final installment. Together these are the substance of a letter already sent to specific officers of the government and offered publicly now using the Bayne Case to expose flaws and to propose remedies in the child protection system.

OVERUSE OF LAWYERS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS AND THE NEED FOR EXCELLENT CORE TRAINING – PART 5

Over-use of lawyers and psychologists.
There is a body of knowledge and skills in the work of child protection which is definable and teachable. When staff are not properly trained, they do not have the skills to practice confidently. As basic staff training has always been inadequate, we have for several years seen an increasing trend for work to be contracted out to people who are perceived to have greater expertise. As in the Bayne case contracting out a parental capacity assessment to a psychologist is a good example. Social workers do not understand that a degree in psychology does not qualify one to do parental capacity assessments, any more than does a degree in social work. Psychologists are licensed because they are the only ones who can do psychometric and related testing. Only they own the materials and the expertise. Apart from this they have no special skills without taking extra training.

OPEN LETTER TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE – PART 4of5 / 566

Ray Ferris is my guest writer for the next five GPS posts. He retired after a career that included significant years with the MCFD and he has written a book entitled 'The Art of Child Protection.' In five parts here is the substance of a letter already sent to specific officers of the government and offered publicly now using the Bayne Case to expose flaws and to propose remedies in the child protection system.

THE POWER OF DIRECTORS & THE NEED FOR MEDIATION – PART 4  

Powers of the Directors

When the CF&CSA was enacted, the legislature in its wisdom decided that ministry staff must be protected from inappropriate political interference with professional decision making. Thus local directors were given great powers in the act and have virtually unquestionable authority over all children in care and over decisions relating to protection cases. A director cannot be overruled and can only be removed. This happened in the Draayer foster home case where it took an order-in-counsel removing the director as director in that case only and appointing someone else.

AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE – PART 3of5 / 565

Ray Ferris is my guest writer for the next five GPS posts. He retired after a career that included significant years with the MCFD and he has written a book entitled 'The Art of Child Protection.' In five parts here is the substance of a letter already sent to specific officers of the government and offered publicly now using the Bayne Case to expose flaws and to propose remedies in the child protection system.

THE CHILD, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES ACT – PART 3

The child family and community services act.
The act itself causes many problems. It is too long and complicated and the authors made the fundamental error of trying to prescribe practice. As soon as it was passed it virtually ground the courts to a standstill. In trying to be all things to all people, it fills itself with conflicts and contradictions. Strict adherence to one clause can cause another clause to be sabotaged. The well meaning general principles and guidelines are routinely ignored and in the Bayne case the statutory time lines were totally set aside.

AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE – PART 2or5 / 564

Ray Ferris is my guest writer for the next five GPS posts. He retired after a career that included significant years with the MCFD and he has written a book entitled 'The Art of Child Protection.' In five parts here is the substance of a letter already sent to specific officers of the government and offered publicly now using the Bayne Case to expose flaws and to propose remedies in the child protection system.

Yesterdays' post was Part One and entitled "The Bayne Case is an Example of Flaws." It provides the facts of the case and a summary.

NUMEROUS OTHER CASES, ANALYSIS AND REMEDIATION – PART 2

AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE – PART 1of5 / 563

Ray Ferris is my guest writer for the next five GPS posts. He retired after a career that included significant years with the MCFD. In five parts this will be the substance of a letter already sent to specific officers of the government and offered publicly now using the Bayne Case to expose flaws and remedies in the child protection system. Here is part one of his letter.



THE BAYNE CASE AS A GRAPHIC EXAMPLE OF FLAWS – PART 1
My purpose in writing to you is to draw your attention to the facts in a particular case and in some related cases in order to illustrate a number of serious problems in the child protection system. Some of these problems are systemic and others are not. Where the problem is systemic, I offer some suggested remedies that can be tried. I think that there are possible remedies for the non-systemic problems, but they are deep-seated and difficult to correct. It can be noted that non-systemic problems cannot by remedied by making administrative or systemic changes. This is one of the reasons why the past systemic changes recommended by people like Gove and Hughes have not worked and have in many respects simply created new problems.