Critic says foster care system chronically dysfunctional

By NADIA MOHARIB

On the heels sex-related charges against a Calgary foster parent, other victims of abuse in such care say they’re outraged problems within the system are never addressed.

Edmonton lawyer Robert Lee represents about 300 people abused in foster care and for the past seven years has had a class action suit against the Alberta government seeking compensation for the victims.

Disturbed by sex-abuse charges this week laid against a longtime foster parent Garry Prokopishin for alleged incidents with three male youth in his care, Lee said he’s also disappointed to hear provincial authorities once again vowing to deal with chronic issues within the system.

He said the system struggles with “well-meaning welfare workers trying to do their best with kids,” but hampered by heavy workloads.

And while the top issue is abuse — with countless cases where children’s complaints are not believed — it is followed by neglect, where they simply fall through cracks in the system, said Lee.

“There have been numerous reviews of the child welfare system over the last thirty years and unfortunately, those recommendations are not implemented,” he said.

This week, Calgarian Prokopishin, was charged with offering teens in his care money in exchange for sexual acts.

Police said the 51-year-old and his wife cared for 55 male youth over 20 years at their Beddington home.

Investigators interviewed 13 out of 55 former foster children before charging Prokopishin with luring a child by cellphone, three counts of obtaining or attempting to obtain sex from a person under 18 years of age and sexual contact with a youth by a person in authority.

Newly-minted Children and Youth Services Minister Yvonne Fritz announced a review of that case on Thursday, the same day police went public with the charges.

Friday, she stressed the review is not of the “entire foster-care system,” but rather the Calgary case to see whether policies and procedures were followed.

“It is focusing on this particular situation,” she said.

“It is an internal review and if changes are necessary I will make those changes immediately.”

Fritz also defended the foster-care system.

“We have very strong foster-care and very stringent screening process,” she said.

There are about 4,600 youth in foster care in Alberta.

The bulk have been abused or neglected and end up in care when guardians are unable or unwilling to look after them.