Someone has to stand up, take responsibility and make change.
Jade’s story as reported in the Star over the past few weeks was harrowing to read. I can only imagine how unbearable it was to live.
Dying at 14 years of age after adoption as an infant, having that hone fall apart, brought into care of the London Children’s Aid Society, shunted from one place to another that served as shelter not a home, leading up to her death provided a motel room for a place to live.
It is a fact that today, yes, this is the best Ontario can do. I think anyone would agree that to say the situation is “unacceptable” is far too great an understatement.
Jade’s story is entirely representative of hundreds, if not thousands, of children in the Province.
It is impossible to understand Jade fully. She is no longer with us to tell us what we need to know.
We do know, however , she was “complicated”. We know professionals gave her labels; Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, and other mental health diagnosis. Near the end of her life Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. We know she had trouble in school and was probably diagnosed with learning disabilities. She struggled with addiction to booze and drugs.
We also know she was loving, and caring. We know she was a smart kid with plenty of people who saw her immense potential. We know she was engaging as evidenced by the many caregivers; birth parents, adoptive parents, foster parents, front line workers who tried their best to hold on to her. We know she was brave and strong. She fiercely found in herself a hope to keep trying to overcome.
We know that Jade’s Adoptive parents, and subsequently the London Children’s Aid Society, could not access services and supports for Jade that she so desperately required. We know at the time of her death the best that the London Children’s Aid Society could offer Jade for a “home” was a motel room and two staff on site to watch her. This “home”, not temporary, but in place for over a year.
There are thousands of Jades suffering in Ontario and thousands of caregivers struggling to support them.
Under the Child , Youth and Family Services Act the Province is responsible for the child protection system. The Province is responsible for all services available or unavailable to children and families of Ontario.
The Minister of Children, Community and Social Services under the Act is the point person for this responsibility.The Minister held Jade’s life in his hands. The Minister it is clear let her precious life slip through his fingers. This is not hyperbole, it is a simple truth.
For years the government has known of the systemic factors facing Jade and children like her. Responses from Ministers like “we increased CAS budgets”. “One death is too many” , responses that always have rung hollow now are grossly callous.
At every turn from the moment she was born Jade did not have what she needed when she needed it . At every turn Jade’s birth parent, her adoptive parents, her foster parents, her front line workers did not have what they needed when they needed it to support Jade to thrive. In this context her life spiralled downwards from day one. There are too many children living her life today.
While I empathize with the front line workers and the moral injury they endure, at the same time I know the CAS system is no victim. It is not a leaf blowing in the wind. It continues to resist the fundamental change needed away from a 130 year old outdated child protection system. It , doesn’t speak out for the children or families. It continues to focus on funding , and dances with the Ministry in a self serving way that keeps change from taking place.
Who then in the Province will say “it is enough”? Not the Minister. Not the system itself.
There is nothing that prevents the Coroner of Ontario from calling an Inquest into Jade’s death. He should. He must. The inquest called must have a scope that is broad and includes the systemic issues (child welfare, addiction and mental health, complex special needs, education) that have taken the lives of many other children , that have forced so much suffering for children like those who have died yet survived the ordeal.
The Coroner can call a “discretionary inquest” if the inquest would be in the “public interest”. By any definition with the crisis facing thousands of families unabated, and growing, the threshold of public interest was reached long ago. It is high time he speak for the dead to protect the living.
As the Coroner calls his Inquest the Legislature can stand up. The Legislature, collectively, in a non partisan manner can say “it is enough”. They should. They must, establish an all-Party Committee that would hold hearings across Ontario. The Committee listening to young people, caregivers, service providers, advocates and others as to what “safety” for children really means and how we can achieve it.
In this moment in Canada we have been told it is a time to be bold, a moment to do big things. As we reimagine our Province, we can imagine a North Star that would meet the needs and desires of every child and family. We can do this. We must do this. Let the the Legislature and the Coroner of Ontario lead us