Welfare system still failing BC teens: former child advocate

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VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – BC’s former advocate for children is disappointed problems she flagged more than two years ago haven’t been resolved by the NDP government.

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond says she doesn’t understand why criminal record checks are not automatically being done for anyone working with teens in government care.

“I’m really worried about the situation because who will be overseeing this ministry and why wasn’t work done to really get these background checks done, but also to make sure these kids are safe? The system has fallen down again. We need to really do the deeper fixes.”

She’s responding to last week’s report by her successor about a complaint involving a Lower Mainland staff worker with gang ties offering teens cocaine and smoking pot with them.

“And I know from myself, when the kids were being housed in hotels, I just had to really get in there and push every single day with the staff, so I feel like there’s been a breakdown. I mean, the senior ranks of the ministry are not working with the oversight body and this is not a healthy situation for anyone.”

Current children’s representative, Bernard Richard, has confirmed several problems flagged by Turpel-Lafond more than two years ago haven’t been resolved yet and last week, the provincial government ordered a review.

Turpel-Lafond says that review wouldn’t have been necessary if concerns she raised in 2016 had been adequately addressed and she admits she expected more after the government changed hands last year.

“I think it is slipping back and I’m, of course, disappointed to see that because you have to be vigilant. Ringing the bell that something bad is happening after it’s happened is too late. You need to be ahead of it and on top of it. They have to be held to account. Families and young people have nowhere to go to get support unless these systems work…. The ministry senior staff appear to have not been working with the independent oversight body on the status of those group homes if more than half of the staff hasn’t had security clearances. Childhood is 933 weeks. We can’t afford to fail these kids who don’t have enough adults in their life to stand up for them.”

Turpel-Lafond was BC’s child and youth advocate for ten years until 2016.

Richard recently announced he’s quitting this summer less than two years into his five-year term.

His replacement hasn’t been named yet and Turpel-Lafond says she hopes BC’s next child and youth advocate has more success.

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