A10 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 15, 1997 Foster parent services lacking in northern B.C. By CRIS LEYKAUF THE MINISTRY of Children and Families needs to recruit more ‘aboriginal foster parents in the north and give them adequate. support afterward, indicate the findings of a ministry task force, Stories about the-lack of aboriginal foster families and of support arose in Terrace this summer When task force members toured the province. Struck in May 1997, ihe task force. was the ministry’s- in response “to claims of physical abuse of two infants in foster care. Four separate sessions were tield in Ter- race in July-and August, one of seven loca- tions the task force stopped at around the province. The task force found that the number of children in care is growing far quicker than the ministry’s budget. Tn August there were 8,673 children and youth in care,.an increase of 18 per cent" over last year. B.C, spends over $170 million annual on foster services — about $15,000 per child in a foster home and about $60,000 per bed in residential or group home facilities. '. Sandra Scarth, co-chair of the task force, altributed the increase to a number of things. Mi The Gove report. After the report was released in Nov., 1995, the number of children in care in- creased dramatically. Social workers are nervous about not ap- prehending a child if they have any suspicion that child is being abused, said Scarth, “IF you have a doubt you bring the child into care,” she said. @ Public awareness The Gove report Ied to more people reporting child abuse, @ High unenaployment Joblessness, combined with drops in UI .payments and cuts to welfare, means there are a lot of poor people around. And it’s the poor who are the primary users of foster care, since they don’t have as many altemma- tives as those who are better off, said Scarth. “People under stress are not very gaod with their kids.’’ Scarth predicied that the demand for foster services would continue to grow at 15-20 per cent. She attributed that to B.C.'s growing population. Rural areas, such as Terrace, have addi- tional problems, such as a shortage of foster homes; And there-aren’t as. many support services for foster parents outside main ur- ban centres. There’s. an even worse lack of aboriginal foster homes, said Scarth, ‘Jeremy Berland headed up two of the task force sessions in Terrace, He said a key problem here was the turn- over of social workers. ‘‘(Nalural) parents had the feeling of being pushed around like a rag.doll,’” said Berland. Large social worker caseloads reported as a prob- lem with foster care services. And the workload of social workers was another problem. — one that was reported across the province. ‘Most parents liked their social workers — they just didn’t get to see them often enough,’’ said Berland. Social workers reported the same prob- lem, feeling frantic trying to keep up with their caseload. The aboriginal community wanted native children to be placed in native homes. And they wanted better communication with the ministry, added Berland. The task force made a number of recom- mendations, concerning native children and native foster parents. One of those said that the assessment, training and support given to native foster parents must “recognize the sccio- economic barriers experienced by aboriginal caregivers on and off reserve.’’ The task force also said that on-reserve foster parents should have better training and support, especially for special needs children and youth. Advocate wants native children in native homes BILL CHRISTIANSEN _ bands. COMMERCIAL/ RESIDENTIAL LOT School District No. 82 Located at the corner of (Coast Mountains) Park Ave. and Eby Street 106x121. Zoned R7 idea! AN playing fields at for ee commercial fes- | | the Yerrace/Thornhill eral development. area schools will be Asking $129,900 MLS 9 $128, fertilized monthly. This program will run from May Call Rusty. Or Bert L through Oct. 1997. 638-0371 Wk, 635-5754 Res. | Something New At CHANGES Make your appointments with Barb in her new sation. 635-7737 Yj 4615 Graham Ave. Terrace, B.C. CHANGES SMALL BUSINESS WEEK October 19 - 25, 1997 Asia Pacific Connections Introduction to Export - Are you Ready? This export workshop is designed to introduce you to the hands-on ‘real life” needs and factors as they apply to the international market. Your ~ gpeaker, David H: Wallace, has lived in Japan for several years and has first hand knowledge of the Japanese and East Asian markels. Dale: Wednesday, October 22, 1997 - Place: . The Coast Inn of the West, Terrace Time: 7:30 pm- 10:00 pm Cost: - $10,00 per parson. "Please call to reserve 615-5310 Sponsored by City of Terrace and Business Development Bank of Canada woof? cout IN i S2e~/ Soin Us For Breakfasny The Bear Country Inn Restaurant is now open at 6:30 a.m. with a new breakfast menu! New time, new taste, same great service! 4702 Laketse Ave., Terrace Ph: 635-6302 * Fax: 635-6381 Formerly Terrace Siumber Lodge wants to get native children into native homes, The former native youth _and family advocate says he knows of eight aboriginal children in foster care now who have been abused. He also accuses the Minis- try of Children and Families of discriminating against na- tive families. Christiansen thinks those eight. children would be safer in aboriginal foster homes, He’s working with the Northwest Band Social Workers Assoc,, which is affiliated with 25 bands. It’s hoping to place those eight children in homes within the The local branch of the ministry has indicated it might be receptive to that idea, District supervisor « Sharon McCrimmon is plan- ning to meet with ihe band social workers to sce if na- live homes could be found. Christiansen said he’s seen signs that the ministry is cooperating betler with native families. Last week he took his quest to find native foster homes onto CFNR radio. If those homes can be found Christiansen hopes the ministry could fast-track its approval process in order’ to have those eight children moved. Bill Christiansen FOR SALE - HOUSE ON LOT District of Kitimat Parcel Identifier: 011-955-708. Lot 17, Black 227, Plan 3593, District Lot 6033, Range 5, Coast District Subject to Restrictive Covenant 14291D (see 5258 1-1} and Easement: 142920 (Sea Location: Legal Description: 5258 1-l) Municipal Address: 69 Kechika Street, Kitimat, B.C. Dascription: . House on Lot Estimaled Market Value: $108, 00, Vune 25, 1997) Terms; Cash : A dwelling is situated on this property. The Board makes no representations as to the condition of the dwelling or the lands. Prospective purchasers are advised to arrange for inspection before making on offer. Contact Mr. Harry Eberts, Maintenance Superintendent at 250-635-4405. Sale is on an “as is/where is” basis. Copies of the Restrictive Covenant and Easement encumbering the pro- perly may be cbtained from the School District. Offers should be at least equal to the market value. The highest or any offer will not necessarily be accepted. The Board reserves the right to negotiate with Ihe highest bid- der or any other bidders to the exclusion of all other bid- ders. Tenders which offer less than the estimated market value may be rejected or may be accepted if the School District considers the estimated market value set forth abave ta be higher than warranted. The Board does nat warrant the actual market value to be equal to the estimat- ed market value set forth above. The purchase price must be paid in cash. Offers must be accompanied by certified cheque or bank draft payable to the Board of School Trustees of Schaol District No. 82 {Coast Mountains) in the amount of 10% of the purchase price and must include an undertaking to make payment and complete the purchase within 30 days of acceptance by the Board. The possession and adjust- ment date will be the same day ‘as the completion date. Purchasers must retain their own natary public or lawyer to prepare conveyancing documents. Secled offers ta purchase must be delivered to the under- signed by 12:00 noon, Friday, October 24, 1997. SECRETARY TREASURER COAST MOUNTAINS SCHOOL DISTRICT NO, 82 3211 Kenney Street, Terrace, B.C. V8G SE? FOR SALE - HOUSE ON LOT Lacation: Lagal Description: District of Kitimat Parcel Identifier: 011-913-851 Lot 24, Block 223, Plan 3606, District Lat 6033, Range 5, Coast District Subject to Restrictive Covenant 1 4956D (see 529751) and Easement 14957D (See 529751) Municipal Address: 108 Skeena Street, Kitimat, B.C. Description: HouseonLol ~ Estimated Market Value: $90,000, (June 25, 1997) Terms: Cash A dwelling is situated on this properly. The Board makes no representations as to the condi lion of the dwelling or the lands. Prospective purchasers are advised to’ arrange for inspection before making an offer. Contact Mr. Harry Eberts, Maintenance Superintendent at 250-635-4405. Sale is on an “as is/where is” basis. Copies of the Restriclive Covenant and Easement encumbering the pro- perty may be obtained from the School District. Offers should be at least equal to the market value. The highest or any offer will not necessarily be accepted. The Board reserves the right to negotiate with the highest bid- der or any other bidders to the exclusion of all other bid- an Tenders which, offer less than the estimated market dlue. may, he reieded. ars maybe: rgenles i ithe School se considers. the:;estimated market. value . set, -forth ans to be higher than warranted. The Board ‘does | not warrant the actual market value to be equal to the estimat- ed market value set forth above. The purchase price must be paid in cash. . Offers must be accompanied by certified cheque or bank draft payable to the Board of School Trustees of School District No, 82 (Coast Mountains} in the amount of 10% of the purchase price and must include an undertakin make payment and complete the purchase within 30 aye of acceptance by the Board, The possession and adjust- ment date will be the same day as the completion date. Purchasers must retain their own notary public or lawyer to prepare conveyancing documents. Sealed offers 0 purchase must be delivered to the under- signed by 12:00 noon, Friday, October 24, 1997. SECRETARY TREASURER COAST MOUNTAINS SCHOOL DISERICT NO, 82 3211 Kenney Sireet, Terrace, B.C. V8G 3E Play at a bingo hall near you, _Lucky Dollar Bingo Palace, Terrace