Mom to get public inquiry into daughter's death
Six months after Helen finally got her daughter back, after more than a decade in a foster home, the 13-year-old girl was dead.
And now, two years after putting Allison to rest, Helen is finally getting the fatality inquiry that she was originally told she had no right to.
"SM" was a little girl who was and is very dearly, deeply loved and deserves the respect and peace that may only arise from full disclosure of her horrid and painful life taken all too soon. "SM" was never - at any time - subject to a protection order, but instead, a child with disabilities which Ministry Officials claimed could only be adequately addressed in foster care where monies and supports would be allotted instead of to natural families!! This is an entire group of wronged individuals neglected by the Government and a National travesty!
ReplyDeleteDespite YEARS of pleas to Ministry to determine what rights remained in force for the natural parents of "SM" to return home from the placement they feared for their child's safety, no response was ever elicited from Officials until the child lay in hospital dying and Manager revealed truth: The family of "SM" were the only legal guardians of the child. All rights had been misplaced and transferred erroneously to foster placement. Schools, nor medical personnel were ever made aware of the truth either... each under false premise due to Ministry neglect to inform!
ReplyDeleteThings that hurt are like when our family was not supported. It is difficult to have a brother or sister with a disability because it costs a lot of money for things that most other people don't need, like diapers, special clothes or shoes and babysitters for older people. What happened to my family was really unfair: My mom & dad were told that they could not have support for my sister when she was born unless she lived in foster care. Parents should get the same help for their own children so that they can stay at home with their family who really love them. Things are getting better now. My mom was able to get a family law changed for kids with disabilities like my sister so that now when families ask for help, they do not have to give up rights.
ReplyDelete(As the saying goes, 'out of the mouths of babes'... written by a 13 year old sibling.)
A tragic example of abuse of power where Government steps into areas where they have no business to be.
ReplyDeleteInstead of effectively supporting children with disabilities in their own loving homes, they break apart solid families and move children into situations where they all too easily come to harm.
Fund families of children with developmental and medical differences instead of strangers who may have no investment in the child other than monetary value.
In addition to the insult that has arisen with lack accountability in the death of "SM", the Ministry has made it impossible for the victim's family to obtain representation for the child.
ReplyDeleteWhile no monetary token can ever speak to the loss of a loved one, it may assist in obtaining accountability and ending further wrongs. However, that vein is not available for the Government of Alberta sets a statuatory cap of $75K award for surviviors of a child who has perished. Thus, no lawyers are willing or able to take the case as legal fees supercede maximum potential award - if - successfully awarded at all!
There is no justice in Alberta's current legislation towards victims, nor accountability for harm imposed. After-all, those who are responsible for death are the same who set the rules and predetermine that justice will, indeed, not be served by imposing restrictions which make it impossible to challenge law.
No different from the restictions imposed by FOIP whereby, no innocent man should need fear openess and accountability if they speak the truth. The current practice makes a mockery of proteciton in respect to victims who are effectively silenced.