SOUND OFF: There must be greater accountability after foster care death
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IT WAS ABSOLUTELY GUT-WRENCHING to learn about a recent criminal case involving two Indigenous children in foster care in the Fraser Valley, one of whom tragically lost his life due to a lack of oversight by the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
These vulnerable children were abused both physically and psychologically by their foster parents between December 2020 and February 2021. The 11-year old boy was beaten so badly, he died as a result of a traumatic brain injury. The perpetrators, who as foster parents were supposed to be protecting these young kids, have now been sentenced for their crimes.
Evidence presented in court showed MCFD staff hadn’t checked on the two children for seven months. While some of those staff members have been fired, the minister responsible, Mitzi Dean, has failed to take accountability for this shocking display of negligence and systemic failure. Amid calls for her resignation from the BC First Nations Leadership Council and the BC United and Green caucuses, she has refused — and has chosen to repeat scripted talking points rather than provide any meaningful reassurance that a tragedy like this won’t happen again.
It’s deeply troubling to think more children could indeed be at risk. Audit data from the ministry shows many regions across B.C. are scoring very low on a number of basic duties and obligations — like basic safety checks, ongoing maintenance of foster homes, preliminary checks of caregivers, and proper training of those individuals. This is completely unacceptable. Clearly, the government needs to increase resources to ensure children in care are protected and nurtured, not neglected.
