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