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

2011 Crown Ward Review 132 Crown wards reviewed 136 Crown wards reviewed in Crown wards reviewed in Crown wards reviewed in Crown wards reviewed for the first time 108 Crown wards previously reviewed 2 cases of adoption probation 2 cases of adoption probation in cases of adoption probation in 2009

Reasons for Admission 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%)

Child Profile by Age Age at time of review: years 15 (11.4%) 13 (9.6%) years 20 (14.9%) 26 (19.1%) 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 years Average age at time of Crown wardship in years 2009 provincial average is 8.2 years at time of Crown wardship

Permanency Plans 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%)

Children With Diagnosed Identified Needs 97 (73.5%) children identified with special needs 101 (74.3%) children identified with special needs in 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 provincial average is 49%. 36 (27.3%) children were involved in therapy 43 (31.6%) were involved in therapy in 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 provincial average is 9% of children identified as high risk

Children with Identified Needs 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 (%)

Behavioural Issues 53 (40.2%) children with behavioural issues 54 (39.7%) children with behavioural issues in 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

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

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%.

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%

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

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

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 provincial average is 49% of children in CAS operated care

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 provincial average is 31% of children in OPR 6 (5%) children were living independently 12 (9%) living independently in 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

Frequency of Placement Change 1 placement change every 25.7 months 1 placement change every 23.6 months in 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 – Average number of placements since Crown Wardship – 2.7

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

Caseworkers Since Crown Wardship 1 caseworker since Crown wardship caseworkers since Crown wardship – 30 3 or more caseworkers since Crown wardship – 90 Average number of caseworkers since Crown wardship – Average number of caseworkers since Crown wardship – 4.0

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

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

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%

Compliance with Standards StandardCases where applicable Cases in Compliance Level of Compliance 2011 Level of Compliance day visit %96.8% 30 day visit29 100%93.3% Minimum 3 month visit %95.6% Private visit %100.0% Child’s family history %98.5% Annual medical exam %94.0% Annual dental %97.8%

Compliance with Standards StandardCases where applicable Cases in Compliance Level of Compliance 2011 Level of Compliance 2010 Review POC %92.9% 30 day review replacement %85.2% Review of plan by Supervisor %90.3% POC address specific needs %92.6% Annual school report % Discussion of rights % POC residential resources % AAR %90.4%

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

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

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.

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;

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.