How Could You? Hall of Shame-Quebec Foster Care

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Quebec, Canada, a now 17-year-old former foster child “whose identity is protected by law, said his former foster father sexually abused him for six years. The foster father was charged but prosecutors stopped the proceedings, telling the teenager there was conflicting testimony and a lack of evidence.

The Quebec Human Rights commission then investigated the alleged victim’s case and had some serious criticisms of the youth services program he was involved with.”

CBC exclusive: Foster care in Quebec
[CBC 2/22/12]

The organization involved is  Batshaw Youth and Family Centres.

“”It started when I was about six, it happened probably on a twice-a-week, three-times-a-week basis” over six years, Robert [pseudonym] said.

He didn’t dare breathe a word about it at the time because “you’re scared of losing the only home you really know.”

Batshaw shut down the Laurentians foster home in 2006, after another child in the home reported abuse.

The foster father faced several charges involving several alleged victims.

But the Crown prosecutor stopped the legal proceedings.

“She told me there was conflicting testimony between a few of the children,” Robert said.

“She didn’t think she had enough evidence, hard evidence to press for a guilty verdict.”

Commission Report

“CBC News obtained a copy of the commission’s investigation conclusions, which includes the following:

• Robert’s version of events, that he repeatedly experienced sexual abuse by his foster father.
• Information about another foster child in the home who became pregnant at age 12, which went unnoticed until she was in her 35th week of gestation.
• The commission does not make any conclusions regarding the baby’s paternity.

Battista says she is shocked.

“Irrespective of who the [baby’s] father was, a girl getting pregnant, and giving birth at age 12 is simply not acceptable to me while she’s under foster care,” she said.
The commission concludes that several aspects of foster care protocol were not followed in Robert’s case, including:

• Certain background and criminal record checks required when applying to become a foster family were not done.
• Investigating questionable information raised by third parties on the basis that it was not significant enough.
• Children being informed of their rights by the Youth Centre involved.

The commission report also concluded that the children in the case were interviewed in the presence of their foster parents, despite allegations of abuse.”
Ex-foster child account triggers Quebec investigation
[CBC 2/20/12]

Need of Foster Family Tracking Registry

“”Information has circulated that the foster mother has entered into a new foster family agreement in another region of Quebec,” said the conclusion of the report.

“That’s not possible to verify because there’s no central information system concerning foster families in this province,” it said.

Battista said the findings are disturbing. “This is a tragic story and I am convinced that it’s not just these kids who have suffered,” she said.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Health and Social Services said it is looking into a central database.

The CBC asked Batshaw spokesperson, Marion Leroux, if it notifies other agencies across the province when it shuts down a foster home. Leroux said “The protocol we must follow when we have terminated a contract with a foster family is to inform the Health and Social Services Agency of Montreal.”

Batshaw said when it comes to finding out if people applying to be foster parents have ever been foster parents in other regions of Quebec, it relies on the applicants to be honest about that information.

Leroux said a province-wide registry would be helpful.”

Rights commission wants database on foster parents
[CBC 2/21/12]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Now Canada has joined Russia in understanding the need to track abuse events and people involved in out-of-biological-family care. When will the US wise up to this need for internationally adopted children, foster parents who move out of state and even abuse within the state?