York Region Children's Aid Society fights for rights of vulnerable children

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 9, 2014
By Chris Traber

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

That pithy, framed adage greets Jennifer May at the start of each working day at the York Region Children’s Aid Society.

“It reminds me that if we work hard enough, good change can happen,” the kinship search and family finder said of author Maria Robinson’s truism.

The words are particularly poignant to May and her 300 agency colleagues who, last year, fielded 10,533 calls concerning the safety and well-being of a child, completed 3,901 investigations and served close to 11,000 children in our communities.

Though October is formally Child Abuse Prevention month, the society’s daily mission is to protect children from neglect and harm.

The society’s stately Newmarket head office is a beacon of hope for at-risk kids and a dispensary of genuine care and help.

Of the variety of referral sources, one in three come from police, 21 per cent from schools, 14 per cent from our children’s aid societies and 3 per cent from the legal system.

Seven per cent of referrals come from children themselves.

The top three reasons for referral are risk of physical abuse or neglect to an infant, caregiver(s) with mental health problems affecting their ability to parent and caregiver(s) with substance abuse problems.

The subtext for incoming calls varies. Almost a third are because of emotional harm and exposure to conflict. Eighteen per cent are requests for assistance and 15 per cent report physical abuse. Four per cent call because of sexual abuse.

A 12-year society veteran, May’s present job is relatively new. While the society has always actively looked for family members and supports for youth in care, the formalized position helps make that initiative more a priority, she said.

As such, the York resident works with crown wards; kids who have expressed interest in knowing who their biological parents are.

“We help search out family they’ve lost contact with,” she said. “If there’s no connection after age 18 and they don’t have a stable, supportive adult in their life, it can be a very difficult journey.”

Often, it’s a difficult task and May’s sleuthing skills are put to the test. There’s an investigative process, Internet-based searches, police checks, genealogy and family trees.

“If foster care came early in life and the child has no idea who their family is, it is like detective work,” May said.
Some times the family doesn’t know the child exists, she said.

“When they are reintroduced, they often are overcome by emotion,” she said, adding one family member told her she had thought about her child every day for 15 years.

While May’s success rate is “pretty good,” she and her co-workers are not immune to the tightly wound emotions of their jobs.

“It’s difficult when people are ashamed or embarrassed after being located.” she said. “They can refuse the child. That’s hard.”

Intake and assessment services worker Natasha Heckley investigates allegations of abuse. Her caseload ranges from eight to 16 young people from newborns to 16 years.

After receiving a report, she attends the residence and meets with family and children. After almost seven years on the job, she is finely attuned to gauge circumstances. That includes whether a police officer should accompany her, a rare occurrence.

Her work has peaks and troughs.

“The lows are when you walk into a situation and the child’s safety is at risk and you have to make an immediate decision,” she said.

She has entered scenes of serious domestic violence. When she is able to defuse anger and help prevent escalation, it’s gratifying, she said. She is gladdened when, after her intervention, family support and colleagues’ co-operation, peace is restored and the child is safe.

“I don’t work alone,” Heckley said. “It’s a team effort and I have a strong supportive team within the society and community.”

Kinship services worker Simone McKenzie has worked at the society for 11 years. Part of her duty is to facilitate support for a child beyond that available from a biological parent.

“Someone who the child has an emotional connection with,” she said.

McKenzie co-ordinates resources and supports for the caregivers. It’s a task that can cross many borders.

She recently handled a case where parents could not care for their baby. She searched out the baby’s grandparents who lived overseas.

“We created a bond,” she said. “The child is now with its grandparents in Asia instead of foster care.”

York Region’s burgeoning cultural diversity adds another layer of challenge for McKenzie and her colleagues, she said.

When a loved one can’t care for a child, McKenzie shares their pain.

“It can be tough,” she said. “But there are more happy endings than not. Sometimes it takes a while to get there, but we get there.

“I have run into people we’ve helped on the street. They thank you and it’s a good feeling.”

The trio of women is representative of the dedication the society demonstrates daily.

“We are genuinely interested in the best outcome possible,” said May.

“It all comes down to the child’s safety,” Heckley said. “We do the best we can for the child and family.”

Each society staffer’s focus is on the wellbeing of the children, McKenzie said.

“There no joy in a family separation,” she said. “We take no decision lightly. The highlight of the job is when you close a case and know the child will be ok.”

The York Region Children’s Fund helps provide vital childhood enrichment experiences, educational support, and essential basic needs that improve the quality of life for disadvantaged children and youth in the care and protection of York Region Children’s Aid Society.