Shortcomings of the Child Protection System
The Canadian System Failed to Protect Five Year Old Jeffrey Baldwin
Mar 4, 2009
“His weight at death was slightly less than his weight at his first birthday, almost five years earlier,” states the 2005 Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services report entitled “Child Welfare Transformation.”
Jeffrey Baldwin was a 5 year old Canadian child who died from septic shock in 2002 after years of mistreatment by his grandparents, Elva Bottineau and Norman Kidman.
The Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto placed Jeffrey in the care of his grandparents in 1998 because of allegations of abuse. The children's aid organization did not check its own files at that time, and was unaware Mr. Kidman and Ms. Bottineau had prior convictions for assaulting children.
Jeffrey Died Six Weeks Before his Sixth Birthday
On March 19, 2003, his grandparents (Norman Kidman and Elva Bottineau, both 53) were arrested and charged with first-degree murder for their role in his death. The couple was also charged with the unlawful confinement of Jeffrey and his then-six year-old sister. The trial heard how they had kept Jeffrey locked in a bedroom, where he lived in his own feces, and left him to drink from a toilet. The judge heard how the pair used the children as a source of income, collecting government support cheques while offering little in return.
This daunting and disheartening story shocked Canadians. As a country, Canadian hearts, souls, and intellects were deeply troubled by these severe expressions of violence and, sadly, there are many more stories just like Jeffrey Baldwin’s.
85,000 Children are in State Care Across Canada
One of the most troubling aspects of the child protection system is the inability of the system to cope with the dramatic increase in the demand for services. There are not enough foster homes for the numbers of children taken into care. Many extremely vulnerable children end up in institutional or group care, and others in kinship care (foster care with a relative). In fact, kinship care is the fastest growing option for children in need of protection.
According to the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS), although 21% more foster homes were used in 2001/2002 than in 1998/1999, the rate of placements increased by 38% (OACAS, 2002).
“In Toronto, 82% of street-involved youth reported being a victim of crime, most involving violent physical or sexual assault,” according to the 2006 Campaign 2000 report entitled “Report Card on child poverty in Canada.” These young people experience higher rates of depression, substance abuse and pregnancy. It is no surprise that many go from being children in care, to street-involved children, to youth involved with the criminal justice system.
Over One-half of Street-involved Youth in Canada are Former Children in Care
Lacking in family, social supports, financial resources, job skills, and education, and bearing the scars of childhood abuse, street-involved youth are vulnerable to survival strategies that place them at high risk for further rights violations.
When every day is a struggle for food, shelter or warmth, harsh social and economic conditions can force many street-involved youth engage in panhandling, drug trafficking, theft, prostitution, or survival sex (offering sex in exchange for food or shelter). With no support or social safety net, several join gangs for companionship.
Compounding the difficulties faced by children is the cut-off age for which they must leave the child protection system and live independently. Currently, the Child Welfare League of Canada identifies six provinces/territories (Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland/Labrador, Saskatchewan, and Northwest Territories) that use age 16 as the upper limit for a child in need of protection. In British Columbia, it is 19 years, and in the other jurisdictions, 18 years.
Behind the headlines are thousands more painful and deeply disturbing stories. The faces and names of these children go unseen and unheard. Jeffrey Baldwin knew the consequences. He did not live to his sixth birthday.
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