Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Drugs, Weapons Issues At B.C. Group Homes That Cared For Teen Who Died: Report

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 09 Dec, 2015 12:26 PM
    VICTORIA — Newly released government documents say drugs and weapons were among the concerns at former private group homes operated by a company that cared for an 18-year-old before his death.
     
    Alex Gervais fell from an Abbotsford, B.C., hotel window last September, and his death has prompted a review by the government and the province's independent representative for children and youth into the placement of foster children in hotels.
     
    Gervais was sent to live in the hotel after the Ministry of Children and Family Development shut down several group homes operated by private-care provider, A Community Vision for Children and Families.
     
    Documents obtained through a freedom-of-information request indicate B.C.'s director of child welfare received allegations last January of caregivers using drugs and possessing weapons, which resulted in four people losing their jobs.
     
    But the company issued a statement Tuesday, saying it followed government protocols when screening caregivers.
     
    The Jan. 15 investigation report noted complaints by several people "who allege numerous child protection, quality of care and operation concerns involving" the company.
     
    "The initial allegations involve five youth, seven ACV homes and implicated four ACV contracted caregivers," said the report.
     
    The allegations were of "suspected drug use by caregivers, unsanitary conditions of the resource, caregivers having weapons and caregivers framing youth with weapons," it added.
     
     
    Criminal-record checks and prior-contact checks were conducted on the caregivers involved and revealed histories of domestic violence, physical violence, fraud, theft, weapons and possession of drugs for the purposes of trafficking, said the report.
     
    The report said two individuals faced outstanding criminal charges.
     
    The documents did not name the individuals involved or their outstanding charges.
     
    A criminal record does not prevent somebody from being approved as a caregiver, and in some cases can help with the often difficult work, the company said in a statement.
     
    "An individual who has made a mistake, been charged, and been fully rehabilitated is often in the best position to understand and relate to a child facing similar challenges," it said.
     
    The company also said it has a 20-year history of successfully housing B.C.'s most troubled youth and accused the Children's Ministry of moving too quickly to terminate its contracts rather than protecting youth like Gervais who lived in the company's private homes for seven years.
     
    "Sadly, one of the vulnerable children, Alex Gervais, died within weeks of being moved out of the ACV home," said the company.
     
    Children's Minister Stephanie Cadieux has said the policy review will examine the use of hotels as placements for children in care.
     
    It will include information about the demographics of the children, the reasons behind hotel placements and the potential risks associated with hotel stays.
     
    Opposition New Democrat children and family development critic Doug Donaldson said hotels are not appropriate places for vulnerable children.
     
    He said the review must put measures in place to ensure children receive the help and attention they require.  

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Animal Activists Upset With Trophy Hunting Show Planned Planned For Trophy Hunting Show In Toronto

    Animal Activists Upset With Trophy Hunting Show Planned Planned For Trophy Hunting Show In Toronto
    Several animal rights groups are planning to protest the African Hunting Events show at a suburban Holiday Inn in mid-January.

    Animal Activists Upset With Trophy Hunting Show Planned Planned For Trophy Hunting Show In Toronto

    Ottawa May Want To Consider Targeted Steps To Cool Mortgage Borrowing: Report

    OTTAWA — The federal government may want to consider targeted steps to "lean against" the shift toward significantly bigger mortgages, a new report by the C.D. Howe Institute suggests.

    Ottawa May Want To Consider Targeted Steps To Cool Mortgage Borrowing: Report

    Canadian Tire Takes Aim At Wal-Mart In Latest Christmas Light Troubles

    A Federal Court claim filed by Canadian Tire alleges that Wal-Mart worked with two Taiwanese companies to copy the construction and packaging of its Noma Quick-Clip lights.

    Canadian Tire Takes Aim At Wal-Mart In Latest Christmas Light Troubles

    Booze Still Drug Of Choice Among Grade 7-12 Students In Ontario, Survey Finds

    Booze Still Drug Of Choice Among Grade 7-12 Students In Ontario, Survey Finds
    The 2015 survey found that 29 per cent of 12th-graders reported engaging in hazardous drinking, and more than a quarter of adolescents said they were allowed to imbibe at home with friends.

    Booze Still Drug Of Choice Among Grade 7-12 Students In Ontario, Survey Finds

    Scientists Knew They Had 1st Test-tube Puppies In The World When The Mutts Wiggled And Cried

    Scientists Knew They Had 1st Test-tube Puppies In The World When The Mutts Wiggled And Cried
    LOS ANGELES — A team of veterinarians, scientists and lab workers gathered around a surrogate hound and watched her give birth to seven half-pound puppies, the first dogs ever conceived in a test tube.

    Scientists Knew They Had 1st Test-tube Puppies In The World When The Mutts Wiggled And Cried

    Vancouver's Rajiv Dixit And Toronto Man Arrested In $93-Million Pyramid Scheme 'Banners Broker'

    Vancouver's Rajiv Dixit And Toronto Man Arrested In $93-Million Pyramid Scheme 'Banners Broker'
    Police say the scheme — known as "Banners Broker" — was operated out of a Toronto address between October 2010 and March 2013.

    Vancouver's Rajiv Dixit And Toronto Man Arrested In $93-Million Pyramid Scheme 'Banners Broker'