B.C. child representative has ‘grave concerns’ about oversight of group homes
VANCOUVER — British Columbia is failing to adequately screen staff caring for children and youth inside group homes, exposing vulnerable young people to unacceptable risk and harm, says the province’s representative for children.
Bernard Richard has released a letter he sent to Minister of Children and Family Development Katrine Conroy in which he described his “grave concerns” about contracted residential resources for children and youth in care.
“The time has come to express in very strong words that the ministry is failing in its very important responsibility to the most vulnerable children in British Columbia,” Richard said in an interview.
He wrote in the letter that he was shocked to learn that 18 children and youth recently had to be relocated from a Lower Mainland residential agency because a youth claimed a staff member was gang-affiliated, took youth on drug drops, smoked marijuana with them and offered them cocaine.