Psychologist says children should stay in foster care

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This article was published 24/06/2009 (5971 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

 She has been described as a narcissist who functions at the emotional level of an “out-of-control 14-year-old” and believes white people are superior to all others. He has a long history of racism, problems with drug and alcohol abuse, can’t hold down a steady job and currently lives in his parent’s basement.

Together, the Winnipeg couple are far from ideal parents. But that doesn’t mean they can’t someday regain custody of their two young children, a Winnipeg psychologist said Wednesday.

“I’m not closing the door on either parent,” the doctor testified at a high-profile child custody trial. However, he believes the children should remain in foster care indefinitely because the estranged parents lack the necessary skills, insight and maturity to raise the children at this point.

Manitoba Child and Family Services is seeking a permanent order of guardianship for the girl and her younger brother, claiming their parents’ white supremacist beliefs amount to emotional abuse.

Concerns first surfaced in March 2008 when the girl showed up at her school with racist markings all over her body. She then made a series of disturbing remarks to child welfare officials and police about blacks, Jews and other minorities.

The psychologist, who was tasked with doing a parental assessment, told court Wednesday the mother was mostly un-cooperative with him and made it difficult to complete his task.

“If Mom was to parent (again), she would need to place the interests of her children ahead of herself,” he said. He is also recommending that she not be allowed any visitation with the children at this point.

The psychologist held out more hope for her husband, who is the stepfather of the older girl and biological parent of the boy.

“I think (he) can rise to the occasion,” he said. “He’s got some skills, a good head on his shoulders. The kids do like him.”

The psychologist said he could support a return of the children to the man in two years from now, provided he deals with ongoing drug and alcohol issues, can find full-time employment and moves out of his parent’s home and finds his own place to live. He is endorsing visitation by the man at this point and said he has no concerns the children would be at risk of harm.

“Let the dust settle, let him step up to the plate and begin to deal with his issues, and not just be dependent on others,” he said. “It’s more than just a fight, it’s more than just honour. It’s about him being stable.”

The children’s mother was absent from the start of the trial after moving to Quebec. She came back to Winnipeg and was in court Tuesday when the case resumed. She is not represented by a lawyer but is allowed to ask questions of all witnesses.

The psychologist says it’s clear both parents have issues with alcohol and come from difficult backgrounds. They both feel like they are the real victims of a corrupt system and have done nothing wrong.

He said the two children are doing well in foster care while living with the girl’s paternal aunt (the mother of her father, who is not involved in these proceedings and has no relationship with her).

The trial continues.

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