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Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Children’s Advocate received 2,299 requests for office’s services

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 02/8/2012 11:44 AM

Manitoba’s Office of Children’s Advocate released her 2010-2011 annual report today.

Advocate Darlene MacDonald said during that span her office received 2,299 requests for her office’s services. The number of requests are almost the same as those reported in the same period for the year before. There were 1,034 cases opened. The report says the number of cases reported reflects changes made to the office’s data entry system last year rather than an increase in cases.

The report also says OCA advocacy officers closed twice as many case files in 2010-2011 than in 2009-2010.

Most children in care are aboriginal, the report said.

"A review of the racial origin of children and youth involved with the OCA shows that 65 per cent were Aboriginal children and youth. The majority of these children and youth (76 per cent) were children in care of the CFS system, where the system had a legal responsibility over the child. Due to a variety of historic and systemic reasons, there is an overrepresentation of Aboriginal children and youth within the child welfare system. In light of this fact, these numbers are not surprising."

There were also 53 child deaths referred to the office’s special investigations review unit out of 156 children who died in 2010-2010. Most deaths (58 per cent) are the result of natural causes. Accidental deaths and suicide are other causes. There were five homicides of children under 18 in 2010-2011.

Eight of the 156 children who died were in the care of an agency at the time of death.

Fifty-two per cent of all Manitoba child deaths happened in families who had no known child welfare involvement.

The average number of child deaths in Manitoba is 179.

MacDonald also said in the report while there is some progress in more programs for young adults, those who have turned 18 and no longer in care, her office still has too many cases in which there has not been adequate preparation for a child leaving a foster home at 18.

"The OCA has seen an associated increase in service requests from youth aged 18-21 years," the report said. "If this trend continues, our office could see a substantial rise in referrals that could strain our resources to respond appropriately. We are monitoring this situation closely."

MacDonald also said the child welfare system has to be better at how it communicates its services and agency responsibilities to the public.

"Many of the calls we receive reflect that individuals within and outside of the system are unclear about whom to contact for their particular situation. There doesn’t appear to be a defined communications strategy to inform the public about services available, responsibilities or appeal processes," she said in the report.

"Although the province has made improvements to information available on the child and family services website, the system as a whole needs a comprehensive communications audit and plan to improve the flow, timeliness and methods of communication required to improve child welfare services in Manitoba."

In the report, MacDonald also said more work has to be done to prevent child drowning and to help children with developmental, mental or cognitive challenges.

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