The Children’s Aid Society of Brant

1. The Children’s Aid Society of Brant Preliminary Findings Crown Ward Review 2011 February 28-March 10, 2011

2. 2011 Crown Ward Review • 132 Crown wards reviewed • 136 Crown wards reviewed in 2010 • 121 Crown wards reviewed in 2009 • 132 Crown wards reviewed in 2008 • 24 Crown wards reviewed for the first time • 108 Crown wards previously reviewed • 2 cases of adoption probation • 2 cases of adoption probation in 2010 • 9 cases of adoption probation in 2009

3. Reasons for Admission 2011 2010 • Caregiver Capacity 72 (54.5%) 72 (52.9%) • Caregiver Substance Abuse 27 (20.5%) 28 (20.6%) • Parents Mental Health 5 (3.8%) 3 (2.2%) • Abandonment/Separation 22 (16.7%) 23 (16.9%) • Harm by Commission 19 (14.4%) 21 (15.4%) • Harm by Omission 12 (9.1%) 12 (8.8%) • Emotional Harm 7(5.3%) 8 (5.9%) Previous admissions to care 67 (50.8%) 73 (53.7%)

4. Child Profile by Age Age at time of review: 2011 2010 • 0 - 9 years 15 (11.4%) 13 (9.6%) • 10 - 12 years 20 (14.9%) 26 (19.1%) • 13 - 17 years 97 (73.5%) 97 (71.3%) Average age at time of review – 14.1 years Average age at time of review in 2010 – 14.0 years Average age at time of review in 2009– 14.0 years 2009 provincial average is 14.1 years at time of review Average age at time of Crown wardship years – 8.4 years Average age at time of Crown wardship in 2010 - 8.6 years Average age at time of Crown wardship in 2009 - 8.7 years 2009 provincial average is 8.2 years at time of Crown wardship

5. Permanency Plans 2011 2010 • Long term foster care 82 (62.1%) 75 (55.1%) • Independence 27 (20.5%) 30 (22.1%) • Long term group care 5 (3.8%) 3 (2.2%) • Adult Services 3 (2.3%) 3 (2.2%) • Adoption 5 (3.8%) 12 (8.8%) • Return home 0 (0%) 1 (0.7%) • Not clear 10 (7.6%) 12 (8.8%)

6. Children With Diagnosed Identified Needs • 97 (73.5%) children identified with special needs • 101 (74.3%) children identified with special needs in 2010 • 2009 provincial average of children with special needs is 83% • 58 (43.9%) children were taking psychotropic medication • 60 (44.1%) were taking psychotropic medication in 2010 • 2009 provincial average is 49%. • 36 (27.3%) children were involved in therapy • 43 (31.6%) were involved in therapy in 2010 • 2009 provincial average of children receiving therapy is 41% 14 (10.6%) children were identified as high risk, and of these : none required follow up • 5(3.7%) of children were identified as high risk in 2010 • 2009 provincial average is 9% of children identified as high risk

7. Children with Identified Needs 2011 2009 Prov.% • ADD/ADHD 35 (27%) 25% • Psychiatric Diagnosis 16 (12%) 15% • Learning Disability 6 (5%) 8% • Developmental Delay 2 (2%) 7% • Neurological Disorder 1 (1%) • Emotional Difficulty 7 (5%) • FASD 5 (4%) • Medical Condition 4 (3%) • Multiple Disabilities 4 (3%) • Physical disability 0 (%)

8. Behavioural Issues 53 (40.2%) children with behavioural issues 54 (39.7%)children with behavioural issues in 2010 2009 provincial average for children with behavioural difficulties is 43%. 2009Prov % • Aggressive/Assaultive Behaviour 37 (28%) 34% • Substance Abuse 2 (1.5%) 3% • Inappropriate sexual behaviour 3 (2%) 3% • Self Harming Behaviours 1 (0.8%) • Frequent Running Behavior 6 (5%) • Suicidal Ideation – Current 2 (1.5%) • Suicidal Ideation - Historical 1 (0.8%) • Involvement in Prostitution 0 (0%) • Other 1 (0.8%) History YCJA activity 12 (9.1%) 2010 – 12 (8.8%) • 2009 provincial average is 8% of Crown wards had a history of YCJA involvement

9. Serious Occurrences in Previous 12 Months • 32 files reported serious occurrences since the last review • 27 cases with reports on file • 5 Recommendation to File Serious Occurrence Report

10. Educational Placements • 129 (97.7%) children were enrolled in a school program • The 2009 provincial average is 96% of children attending school. • 61 in elementary school including kindergarten • 68 in secondary school • 47 (35.6%) had been reviewed by an IPRC Committee • The 2009 provincial average is 52% of children reviewed by an IPRC • 25 (18.9%) children experienced suspensions • The 2009 provincial average is 17% of children suspended in the previous 12 months • 115 (89.1%) were making some progress (89.9% in 2010) • The 2009 provincial average of children who were making progress was 91%.

11. History of Verified Abuse • 16 (12.1%) of the children experienced physical or sexual abuse prior to coming into care • 0 (0%) of the children were abused while living in a resource • The 2009 provincial average is 4% of children abused while living in a resource. • Previous history of verified abuse (while at home or in care) is 12.1 % • The 2009 provincial average is 24%

12. Services to Aboriginal Children • 40 (30.3%)children had Native heritage • 2009 Provincial average is 22% of children with Native heritage • 34 (85%)children had status • 2009 Provincial average is 60% of children who had status • 5 children were non status and 1 child’s eligibility was yet to be determined • 37 (92.5%) children were participating or had opportunities to participate in cultural and/or spiritual practices • 2009 provincial average is 82% of children participating in cultural/spiritual practices • 21 (52.5%) children were residing in a Native placement • 2009 provincial average is 22% placed in a Native home

13. Services to Aboriginal Children • 27 (67.5%) cases where First Nations were involved in planning and in 11 (27.5%) attempts were made • 2009 provincial average is First Nations involvement in planning in 15% of the cases and attempts were made in 15% • 11 children were placed in their home community (27.5%) • 2009 provincial average is 8% of children placed in home community • 9 children maintained contact with home community (22.5%) • 2009 provincial average is 22% of children maintaining contact

14. Placement • 100 (75.8%) children placed in CAS operated care 40 (30%) in specialized foster care 32 (24%) in regular foster care 27 (20%) in kinship foster care 1 (1%) in treatment foster care • 2(1.5%) with a Community Caregiver • 3 (2.3%) in a parental home • 100 (73.5%) children in CAS operated care in 2010 • 2009 provincial average is 49% of children in CAS operated care

15. Placement • 19 (14.4%) children in OPR • 6 (5%) children in foster homes • 8 (6%) children in staffed homes • 5 (4%) children in parent model homes • 22 (16.2%) were in OPR placements in 2010 • 2009 provincial average is 31% of children in OPR • 6 (5%) children were living independently • 12 (9%) living independently in 2010 • 1 child was placed in Children’s mental health and • 1 child was in YCJ 114 (86.4%) children/youth were living in family settings 115 (84.6%) living in family settings in 2010

16. Frequency of Placement Change • 1 placement change every 25.7 months • 1 placement change every 23.6 months in 2010 • 2009 provincial average is a placement change every 27 months • 71 children (53.8%) experienced placement continuity since Crown wardship • 70 children (51.5%) experienced placement continuity in 2010 • The provincial average is 43% of children who had one placement since Crown wardship. • Average number of placements since Crown wardship – 2.7 • 2010 Average number of placements since Crown Wardship – 2.7

17. Frequency of Caseworker Change • 1 caseworker every 17.1 months • 1 caseworker every 16.4 months in 2010 • 2009 provincial average is 21.1 months on average.

18. Caseworkers Since Crown Wardship • 1 caseworker since Crown wardship - 12 • 2 caseworkers since Crown wardship – 30 • 3 or more caseworkers since Crown wardship – 90 Average number of caseworkers since Crown wardship –4.0 2010 Average number of caseworkers since Crown wardship – 4.0

19. Average Caseworker Contact • 12.9 visits over the past 12 months • 12.6 visits in 2010 • The 2009 provincial average is 11.9 visits.

20. Access • 104 (78.8%) had court ordered access • 24 (18.2%) had orders of no access • 4 (3.0%) had court orders silent as to access • 54 mothers only exercised access in (40.9%) cases • 11 fathers only exercised access in (8.3%) cases • 32 both parents exercised access in (24.2%) cases • 91 extended family exercised access in (68.9%) cases • sibling access occurred in 114 cases (86.4%) • 100 Crown Wards (75.8%) had siblings in care

21. Overall Summary • 132 files reviewed • 110 files were in full compliance • 36 directives were issued in 20 cases • 2 cases not in compliance and no directives issued • overall legislative compliance rating –83.3% • Brant overall compliance in 2010 – 69.9% • 2009 provincial average compliance is 66%

22. Compliance with Standards

23. Compliance with Standards

24. DIRECTIVES Directives were issued • 1 – 7 day visit • 3 - Minimum 3 month visit • 3 - Private visit • 4 - Child’s social history • 2 - Annual medical exam • 3 - Annual dental exam • 6 - Review of plan of care • 1 - Review within 30 days if child moves • 6 - Review of plan by supervisor • 4 – Plan of Care address specific needs • 3 - AAR

25. Recommendations • 62 cases did not require service recommendations • 134 recommendations were issued in 70 cases • 54 to enhance the planning documentation including the social history (14); the plan of care (25) and the recording (15); • 29 to file pertinent reports including, school report (10) medical and dental report (4); clinical report (7);Resource report (2); Incident/Investigation report(1), and serious occurrence report (5) • 25 to consider additional assessment or support for children and youth including to consider counselling (1); psychiatric or psychological assessment (12); educational or vocational support (6); group support (1), and to prepare for independence (5) • 17 to reassess children’s needs including Review permanency planning (12); to review access arrangements (5) • 1 to determine eligibility for native status and 1 to apply to Criminal Injuries Compensation • 6 Other • 1 to review rights

26. Areas that Require Attention • Continued attention to ensure the timely completion of the planning process, including the AAR, the social history and the plan of care; • Continued efforts to address continuity of care and caseworker continuity; • Continue to ensure development of detailed, measurable goals and tasks in all developmental dimensions of plans of care; • Consider updated assessments of children’s needs to assist in planning; • Review Serious Occurrence reporting guidelines, and • Documentation to reflect exploration of all permanency options, for enduring relationships and post care support.

27. Highlights of the Review • Substantial increase in the overall level of compliance ; • The majority of children (75.8%) were placed in CAS operated care ; • Effective placement resources and behavioural management supports for an older age, increasingly high risk population of children and youth; • The majority of children (53.8%) experienced placement continuity since Crown wardship; • The majority of children (86.4%) were placed in family settings; • Caseworker contact with children was above the provincial average;

28. Highlights of the Review • Access was well managed and beneficial with children maintaining connections to their siblings, parents, and extended family; • Academic achievement was a focus of children's planning with the majority of children (89.1%) making progress; • The society made active efforts to place children in Native homes, connect them to their culture and communities and engage the First Nations in case planning, and • The society's response to the majority of the directives and recommendations from the 2009 Crown Ward Review was evident in the case file.