THUNDER BAY — A foster mom in Thunder Bay worries that allowing foster children to see their parents and siblings during the COVID-19 pandemic is jeopardizing the safety of all concerned.
The woman, whom TBNewswatch has agreed not to identify in order to protect the identity of her foster child, says the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and the Children's Aid Society are going against the specific direction of health officials.
"All foster parents got a letter stating that it's business as usual even though we're in lockdown. They're going back to their parents for visits...or to siblings," she said.
In some instances, the woman said, foster children are having weekly visits with their birth parents and multiple siblings, all of whom are living in separate foster homes.
"And they take masks off to eat...They're putting the foster homes at risk and everybody at risk."
Citing current public health guidelines which state "Do not visit other households or host visitors in your home," she said the rise in local COVID-19 cases resulting from contact with unknown sources means foster homes are now at a much higher risk.
"The bottom line is foster homes are being forced to allow unsafe visits when they cannot even visit their own families," the woman said.
Brad Bain, executive director of the Children's Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay, agrees that the recent upsurge in COVID activity in the region is concerning, but says it remains important to keep children connected to their families.
"We do believe that it is in the best interest of children and youth to have ongoing contact with their families, to maintain that familial connection, because on many occasions we are looking to repatriate kids to their home," Bain said.
He added that in many cases, court orders also require that access arrangements continue to be made.
However, Bain said, the CAS has implemented measures over the past year to ensure visits can be done safely.
Each case is examined separately, CAS says
"We look at each case uniquely, do screenings of all the involved parties to make sure there are no issues or concerns. And if there are, we attempt to collaboratively problem-solve to ensure that visits occur in as safe a way as possible," he said.
"If there are concerns, we've been able to remedy those with our foster parents as well as with those that we serve."
In some cases, Bain said, this has resulted in in-home visits being replaced by virtual visits.
The foster mother, however, told TBNewswatch she has never received a call or email from anyone regarding screening prior to the weekly visits, adding "we received a total of one call since this all began."
She said "there is zero chance that there is no physical contact between the children and others in the home during the visits. What parent will not hug and kiss their child? What young child won't play with their sibling?"
The woman said other foster parents have told CAS staff they are also upset about visits continuing during the pandemic.
Bain, however, said "To my knowledge not one of our foster parents has contacted us expressing concern."
He said if someone is apprehensive about visitation arrangements, the agency welcomes a request to discuss the situation.
TBNewswatch obtained a copy of a letter sent by the CAS on Jan. 21 to foster families in the Thunder Bay district. It states the following:
- On May 8, 2020, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services responded to the pandemic by declaring that all children's aid societies across Ontario could deliver some services through virtual methods. This direction "became a challenge" in situations such as court-ordered access, as the provincial courts did not suspend court-ordered access
- On Sept. 23, 2020, the ministry advised that the May 8 direction was rescinded and that societies were to return to regular practice including face-to-face home visits
- On Jan. 14, 2021, the province declared a State of Emergency and a subsequent Stay at Home order, but as of today the ministry has not rescinded its Sept. 23 direction
Bain said Monday that the September letter to agencies still has not been retracted.
However the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services told TBNewswatch in a statement that children's aid societies are independent organizations governed by locally-elected boards of directors, or in the case of First Nations societies, by band councils.
"Ultimately, as independent legal entities, these societies are responsible for determining how best to meet the needs of their clients during the COVID-19 outbreak. This includes determining how best to proceed with family visits to children in foster homes, while respecting the recommendations set out by local public health units," a ministry spokesperson in Toronto said.
