PEOPLE, POLITICS AND CHILD WELFARE IN B.C.

From the UBC Press, University of British Columbia comes this book now five years of age but topically relevant.

People, Politics, and Child Welfare in British Columbia

By Leslie Thomas Foster   Brian Wharf

The publisher’s paragraph states:

“People, Politics, and Child Welfare in British Columbia traces the evolution of policies and programs intended to protect children in BC from neglect and abuse. Analyzing this evolution reveals that child protection policy and practice has reflected the priorities of politicians and public servants in power. With few exceptions, efforts to establish effective programs have focused on structural arrangements, staffing responsibilities, and rules to regulate the practice of child welfare workers.

Contributors to this book conclude that these attempts have been unsuccessful thus far because they have failed to address the impact of poverty on clients. The need to respect the cultural traditions and values of First Nations clients has also been ignored. Effective services require recognizing and remedying poverty’s impact, establishing community control over services, and developing a radically different approach to the day-to-day practice of child welfare workers.
People, Politics, and Child Welfare in British Columbia provides a crucial assessment of the state of child welfare in the province. Practitioners, scholars, and students in social work, child and youth care, education, and other human-service professions will find this book particularly important.”

People, Politics, and Child Welfare in British Columbia Leslie Thomas Foster   Brian Wharf  
$85.00 Hardcover
Release Date: 5/11/2007
ISBN: 9780774813723    
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$30.95 Paperback
Release Date: 1/1/2008
ISBN: 9780774813730    
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304 Pages

Child Welfare Enterprise in B.C./ Part 320 / For Love and For Justice / Zabeth and Paul Bayne/

Child welfare is not important to the general population. Young families live and love life and generally get on quite well. Why would they pay attention to the trouble we discuss here? It is only when one ordinary family ends up in the child welfare system that these few individuals learn how difficult life can become. Child welfare is also tough I believe for those who must work within it. Be patient with me here. The work load is increasing for each worker. From among B.C. children approximately 1 to 1.5 percent are in the care of the government. There is some ammunition for a few of you. After years of leadership upheaval it may appear now that the Ministry has achieved a turn around but who really knows. After all, from 2004 to 2006 there were four different ministers and when the Hughes Report was launched the Minister's position was being transitioned from Stan Hagen to Tom Christensen. Four deputy or acting deputy ministers served during this same period.

Build a Better Future - Reform MCFD

While government care most certainly is a safer place for some children than leaving them in their homes that is most certainly not true of the majority of removals. I am not going to back these remarks with footnoted references. Avid students can look up details as well as I can. My reading however leaders me to these conclusions. When the government is the sole guardian of children, the children's health is substantially worse than the health of children not in care. Childhood health concerns are common among children whether in or out of care but the rates of health issues for those in care is 1.2 to 1.4 times greater than those of the general population children. More alarmingly, 65 percent of children in continuing care suffer from mental disorders and that is where this Ministry of Children want to keep three Bayne children. Who can't see the connection here? That percentage is four times greater than that of children and youth in the general population. There are higher rates of both intentional and unintentional injuries for children in care and higher death rates as well.

I harvested some of these observations from a UBC publication. While published in 2007, if you want a comprehensive resource, access the “People, Politics, and Child Welfare in British Columbia.” Scroll to the index to select data.

Zabeth and Paul Bayne – Part 50 – The Bayne Campaign for Justice

PRAYER, LAW AND POLITICS and a CHRISTMAS GIFT

Believe me, I understand if you are not someone who considers prayer an effective or necessary resource.

I am assuming that because you are sympathetic to the Baynes or even a committed advocate for the return of Kent, Baden and Bethany to their mommy and daddy, Paul and Zabeth, you don’t mind if other advocates pray about this dilemma. Whatever works, right?

I received a message yesterday from a pastor in McBride, B.C. telling me that he has been notifying his congregation regularly about Paul and Zabeth Bayne and the church folk are praying for this family. Their prayer covers all the necessary touch points, Zabeth’s and Paul’s emotional health as this ordeal drags on, the children’s protection within the government protection program, and not least, the restoration of this family unit. When I learned that they are praying that the children will be returned by Christmas I quickly sent out a note to some colleagues. I discovered that numerous people have been praying this same prayer about a Christmas return for some days and weeks. They know that it will require a miracle. I suppose that’s why prayer is the vital response. It connects with the one being who is not miracle challenged.

I know that praying presupposes that Someone is listening. May I jump the theological cue of questions for evidence and presume for a moment that God does exist and is interested and involved with us. The Preamble of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) articulates this truth by stating that “Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law.” That being the case, I am making an appeal to people who pray. Will you please join these others in praying for a Christmas gift. As someone mentioned to me, the Baynes will not only be celebrating the arrival of the celebrated Child Jesus, but the arrival of three children with whom they have not lived since they were two months, two years and three years old. What a gala Christmas this will be!

Pray that the Ministry of Children and Family Development will make this significant decision to return the Bayne children permanently to Paul and Zabeth by Christmas 2009.

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