Foster dad gets 10 years for child-sex abuse

A Winnipeg man who sexually abused three foster children over the course of nearly a decade has condemned his victims to a "lifetime of trauma and pain," a judge said Tuesday.

"There are no adjectives to properly describe the court's repugnance, repudiation and rejection of your vile and depraved acts," provincial court Judge Ray Wyant told the 49-year-old man, before sentencing him to 10 years in prison.

More >> Foster dad gets 10 years for child-sex abuse

'Operating in the dark': How much detail courts get in child protection cases depends on where you live

Little is revealed at the outset of Manitoba child protection cases about why kids are taken into care, a recent CBC investigation into child protection court found — but lawyers in two other provinces say that's not the case where they practise.

But they also said that they're up against many of the same challenges those working on CFS cases in Manitoba face: court delays, heavy caseloads and a system that isn't designed to deal with the complicated nature of families.

More >> 'Operating in the dark': How much detail courts get in child protection cases depends on where you live

Man pleads guilty to causing death of 10-month-old foster child

A young man admitted in court Monday that he caused the death of a 10-month-old foster child in his care in 2017, after breaking the baby's arm, hitting him, dropping him and causing a head injury.

Waylen Wood, 24, pleaded guilty in the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench Monday to criminal negligence causing death.

More >> Man pleads guilty to causing death of 10-month-old foster child

Couple spends $200,000 fighting CFS to get sick baby back

Imagine having a sick five-month-old and teams of medical staff working for months trying to figure out why he vomits when he eats and struggles to gain weight.

But then one lone doctor meets you and instantly decides it’s your fault, and calls child and family services (CFS) to apprehend your baby.

That’s the reality a Winnipeg couple faced in 2013.

More >> Couple spends $200,000 fighting CFS to get sick baby back

Baby apprehended at birth dies in foster care

The parents of a four-month-old girl apprehended at birth appeared before media Tuesday to say Manitoba child-welfare authorities had informed them the baby had died in foster care.

The baby, born in November, had been spending one out of every three weeks with the parents at their home in Bloodvein First Nation, 210 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

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Boy isolated 400 days: Manitoba urged to end long solitary confinement for youth

Manitoba’s children’s advocate is urging the province to stop lengthy solitary confinement of youth in custody after a review that found one boy was isolated for 400 straight days in a cell no bigger than a parking stall.

Daphne Penrose and provincial ombudsman Marc Cormier jointly investigated the use of solitary confinement, segregation and pepper spray in Manitoba’s youth jails.

More >> Boy isolated 400 days: Manitoba urged to end long solitary confinement for youth

Manitoba to look at connection between youth incarceration and child welfare

Manitoba is taking a hard look at youth justice and its connection to child welfare after a study found more than half of kids incarcerated had also been in care.

Justice Minister Cliff Cullen announced Friday that the province will review why youth are bouncing between the two systems without having positive outcomes.

More >> Manitoba to look at connection between youth incarceration and child welfare

Video of baby being taken by child services will follow the girl her whole life: expert

After a video of a newborn baby being taken away from a mother went viral this week, one expert has a warning about the images we choose to share online.

"This story's going to be out there on social media for this child's entire life," said Cindy Blackstock, executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society.

More >> Video of baby being taken by child services will follow the girl her whole life: expert

Viral video of Manitoba newborn being apprehended by CFS prompts family to speak out

Two social media videos show a newborn baby girl being taken from the arms of her Indigenous mother by Manitoba social workers and police – an apprehension that First Nations leaders say is all too common in a child-welfare system biased against Aboriginals.

The videos, broadcast live Thursday on Facebook by the woman’s uncle, show her sitting in a hospital bed, cradling her baby and rocking back and forth as social workers and police explain that the baby is being taken into care.

More >> Viral video of Manitoba newborn being apprehended by CFS prompts family to speak out

Indigenous mother speaks out after newborn seized by CFS

An Indigenous mother from Winnipeg is speaking out about the apprehension of her newborn baby by Child and Family Services.

The woman, 38, and her family members held a media conference Friday morning with First Nations leaders and advocates to address the situation.

More >> Indigenous mother speaks out after newborn seized by CFS

System failed Manitoba girl returned to parent without support, checks: advocate

Manitoba's advocate for children and youth says a girl who suffered repeated sexual abuse and died of a drug overdose was failed over and over again by the province's child welfare system.

The girl -- identified only as Angel -- was born to a mother with addiction issues and was apprehended by social workers 14 times by the time she was 12, says a 118-page report from Daphne Penrose released Thursday.

More >> System failed Manitoba girl returned to parent without support, checks: advocate

Teenager who died in care was under the age of two when she was first sexually assaulted, life didn’t get much better says report

The life and death of a 17-year-old First Nations girl is the subject of a new ‘disturbing’ report released by the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth.

The report titled In Need of Protection: Angel’s Story documents the teen’s, who is only referred to by her first name, involvement with Child and Family Services beginning at the age of one and ending with her tragic death in 2015.

More >> Teenager who died in care was under the age of two when she was first sexually assaulted, life didn’t get much better says report

Teen placed in CFS 46 times before death by overdose; report calls her care 'very disturbing'

A 17-year-old girl who died of an accidental drug overdose was the victim of repeated sexual exploitation and didn't get the help she needed during her time in the child welfare system, Manitoba's children's advocate said Thursday.

The advocate released a photo and the first name of the girl, Angel, who died in September 2015, with a report that gives the Manitoba government six recommendations to address the "massive deficiencies" evident in her care and to help prevent such tragedies in the future.

More >> Teen placed in CFS 46 times before death by overdose; report calls her care 'very disturbing'

Foster dad charged with sexual assault of 2 boys in his care over 5 years

A 66-year-old Winnipeg man has been charged with multiple sex crimes spanning more than five years against two boys he was fostering with his wife.

He was charged with sexual assault, sexual interference and assault. Police allege in court documents he showed the boys pornography, assaulted one of them with a hammer and uttered threats. The alleged abuse occurred between 2009 and 2015.

More >> Foster dad charged with sexual assault of 2 boys in his care over 5 years

Province orders probe into foster agency following CBC investigation on handling of sex abuse

Manitoba's Minister of Families has ordered a review of a foster care company following a CBC investigation that revealed children were left in the same home as a minor who was sexually abusing them.

"I'm happy about it because finally it's being listened to," said the biological parent of the children who were victimized.

More >> Province orders probe into foster agency following CBC investigation on handling of sex abuse

Investigation into foster home sexual abuse up to Metis CFS, says Pallister

Brian Pallister says it is up to Metis Child and Family Services officials to review what happened in a Manitoba foster home, following revelations staff at the agency overseeing the home admitted they "dragged their heels" when sexual abuse allegations arose.

"The legislation requires us to respect the agency [Metis CFS] and that's exactly what we plan on doing as far as further actions," the Manitoba premier said Friday.

More >> Investigation into foster home sexual abuse up to Metis CFS, says Pallister

'We dragged our heels' after sexual abuse allegations, foster care service director says in secret recording

A director with a for-profit Manitoba foster care company said he failed to act quickly enough after allegations of sexual abuse emerged in a home it oversees, according to a secret recording obtained by CBC News.

"We dragged our heels big time," the director of foster care services for B & L Resources for Children, Youth and Families says in the 2017 recording.

More >> 'We dragged our heels' after sexual abuse allegations, foster care service director says in secret recording

‘Twitter Mom’ may sue province that took her children

The woman behind the ‘Twitter Mom’ handle is considering suing the Manitoba government, her lawyer says.

Katherine Hensel, who helped Tamara Malcolm get her children out of foster care, says it’s the next step.

“We’re examining that option,” Hensel says from Toronto.

More >> ‘Twitter Mom’ may sue province that took her children

Volunteer with Child and Family Services Winnipeg charged with sex assault

A Winnipeg man who worked with agencies dealing with children is facing sex-related charges involving two young boys.

Police say the man was with Child and Family Services Winnipeg and was acting as a mentor for a seven-year-old for a one-year period that ended in April.

More >> Volunteer with Child and Family Services Winnipeg charged with sex assault

Change to Manitoba's child apprehension laws ensures kids can't be taken solely because of poverty

Manitoba's child apprehension laws are to be amended so that no child can be seized solely because of poverty.

NDP MLA Bernadette Smith introduced the bill to amend the Child and Family Services Act. After it passed a third reading on Tuesday, she called it a game changer and said it will support families and keep kids out of care.

More >> Change to Manitoba's child apprehension laws ensures kids can't be taken solely because of poverty