A PERSONAL STORY

Sept. 10, 2000

CHILDREN IN NEED OF PROTECTION
MY PERSONAL STORY

PERSONAL DATA:

Separated march 97
Born 94.
July 97 – her father touching 3y old– called CAS –
Apr 98 – again told – again CAS – supervised visits from dad
Sept court. – unsupervised visit again
Oct 98 – she said again – stop visit – he called Police – she told police –
Saw crown – not enough evidence.
Continued visits
Friday older daughter may have caused bruises.
Bruises on her arm. Monday.
He called CAS because of bruises.
Taken june 3 99 to foster home.  Older chose to go. NOT  TO BE QUESTIONED.
Moved to another that was known to be not good.
Little girl serious bruise on her arm 3" diameter.  Amber.
Locked, force-fed.
Aug 2000 older was 12. She decided to come home – afraid.
Remanded through the courts – no decisions – Family Court clinic Dr. involved –
Next appearance Monday.
CAS paid for psychological assessment.
"Weak parenting"
Signed daughter to crown for 9 years.
Problems with foster care home for first – third daughter.
Problem with lawyer.
No money to get good lawyer. 
Reported to law society.
Visits now one night over-night 2 times a month.
Lives in Pembroke.

STORY:

June 1999

            I am a single mom residing in Ontario, Canada.  My two girls, 6 and 12, were apprehended and removed from my home over a year ago on false allegations of physical abuse.  There was no investigation and to this day these allegations haven't been proven.

            They were placed in a foster home and a month later bruises appeared on my little one.  The society indicated to me they were self‑inflicted.  I demanded my children’s quick return and was refused.  There was no longer an issue of physical abuse on my part, now they were holding them on weak parenting.

            While my children were in care, they suffered a tremendous trauma on a visitation to their father.  My ex had a gun pointed to his head and was beat with it in front of my children.  It had to do with drugs.  My children’s lives were threatened!  My oldest is still having nightmares and my little one hasn't gotten over the "blood" on her daddy!  His visits were supervised and then unsupervised, but restricted.  Society didn't allow me to see my children for 3 weeks and I couldn't even comfort them at this time.  They were not given trauma counseling, to my knowledge. 

            My little one also came to me 3 times, before they were put in care, and told me her dad was touching her.  Again, because my little one (3 years old) shut down and wouldn't tell anyone else, there was no proof or evidence, my daughter was unsafe.

            In this foster home my children suffered unjustly.  My little one has regressed to baby talk, wetting herself and acting out profusely.  She was terrified of this foster mom.  She would cry to almost gagging each time I had to take her back there after my visit.  You could see the fear on her face.  She was screamed at, locked in her room,  severely mentally abused with humiliation and degrading remarks, and many times sent to her room with no meals.  Society approved of this 6 year old being put in diapers.

            Both my children have eating disorders, one from lack of food and the other one who was force‑fed.  She expressed to me that if she disliked something, she was given more.

            She didn't like the way her sister was being treated, but was terrified to say anything.  It broke my heart to hear the horrendous stories my children would tell me, and when I would express my concern to Society, they would label me unstable.  I kept a journal, however, and tried to comfort my children as best as I could when they were with me every second weekend.  Even with other people expressing their concerns to the Society, my children continued to be left in this abusive home for over a year.

            As I write this, September 10, 2000, my oldest daughter is home, my little one is in care in another foster home, and I am fighting and praying for her soon return.  Society is threatening me of Crown Ward until she is 16.  All my little one desires is to be home with her "mommy".

Who do you turn to when your children are being hurt in the hands of Society?

Who do you talk to when nobody is listening?

How do you stop this injustice?

How does a single mom, on a fixed income, afford proper legal representation?

How do you keep the children SAFE?

Where do you go for help?

Yes, my children are in need of protection, but not from me!!!

I believe God loves us and he will right the wrongs!!!

All things are possible with God!!!!!!

IF YOU CAN RELATE WITH THIS STORY OR HELP IN ANYWAY,

CONTACT ME AT:

smiley0202@yahoo.com
Katherine Demers  613 735-8940