2022 QCCQ 3144, 2022 QCCQ 3144

Protection de la jeunesse — 221667 2022 QCCQ 3144 COURT OF QUEBEC CANADA PROVINCE OF QUÉBEC DISTRICT OF [...] «Youth Division»

N° : 505-41-009414-196 DATE : March 18, 2022 ______________________________________________________________________ PRESIDED BY JUSTICE MÉLANIE ROY ______________________________________________________________________ [SOCIAL WORKER 1], youth protection worker duly authorized by the Director of Youth Protection A , Applicant -and- X , born on [...], 2017 Child -and- C Mother -and- D Father J U D G E M E N T Sections 95(1) and (2) of the Youth Protection Act WARNING : The Youth Protection Act , forbids the publishing or broadcasting of information allowing for a child or the child's parents to be identified.

Any person who contravenes this provision commits an offense and is liable to a fine (sections 11.2.1 and 135 Y.P.A .) [ 1 ] The child is four years old. She is entrusted to a foster care family with her brother Y , according to the last order rendered on July 14, 2020. [ 2 ] The Director of Youth Protection (the Director) presents an application for revision and extension of a Court decision. [ 3 ] The Director also petitions the Court with applications for revision and extension in the matter of the child’s sibling Z and A, B and Y .

The parties agree to a joint hearing. [ 4 ] For all children, except Z , the Director recommends that the protective measures be ordered until their majority. She also recommends that the contacts with the parents be reduced to once a month, one parent ate the time and that the phone contacts be supervised. [ 5 ] The mother mentions that she does not deserve to lose her kids until their majority. She disagrees with the reduction of the contacts and wants more visits, at her home.

As for Z, she believes that he should stay in a rehabilitation centre because he is in need of help. [ 6 ] The father has the same position as the mother.

[ 7 ] Y and X ’s lawyer agrees with the placement until their majority. She suggests two contacts per month: one in person and one phone call. QUESTION AT ISSUE [ 8 ] Is it in the best interest of the child to be entrusted in her foster care family until his majority? [ 9 ] Should the contacts with the parents be reduced in her best interest? THE EVIDENCE [ 10 ] Since the last Court orders, the children remained in their respective foster homes, except for Z who remained in a rehabilitation centre. [ 11 ] X is described by her foster mother as being very active, hyper and a lot of work.

According to her, she came a long way since she lives with them. [ 12 ] She has developed better regulation skills when it comes to the fact that she was screaming a lot and she is more patient. [ 13 ] She has been having more difficulties to settle down after the visits with the parents and listen to the usual rules at home.

Visits and situation of the parents [ 14 ] Following the last court order, incidents of violence continued to happen between the parents, forcing, at times, police interventions. [ 15 ] On November 21, 2020, the father was arrested after beating up and sequestrating the mother in a motel room. The parents recognized they were under the influence of drugs at that time.

Following the aggression, the mother refused to file a complaint. [ 16 ] After this incident, it was agreed with all the parties that the visits would be done separately and alternate in between the father and the mother in order to maintain the children’s stability and keep them away from this conflictual and violent dynamic. [ 17 ] In February 2021, the Director was made aware that the parents were back living together. [ 18 ] Following the parent’s request the visits started back with them being together with the children. [ 19 ] The last police report is dated May 13, 2021.

Police had then to intervene because of verbal conflicts between the parents. [ 20 ] The mother dropped the charges for domestic violence, consequently no charges were pressed. The father is under house arrest for other charges but there is no prohibition of contacts with the mother. [ 21 ] The Director explains that the visits did not take place at the parents’ house because of safety reasons and not because the house is not proper for the visits. [ 22 ] On August 11, 2021, the Court ordered that in a case of non-agreement, the visits with the children take place at the Director’s offices.

The parents wanted to have some contacts at home. [ 23 ] The parents have seen their children every week under the supervision of the Director. They also have a phone or video calls every week. [ 24 ] The foster care mother of A and B testifies that the children enjoy their visits with the mother. B talks a bit about his dad.

He also talks about the fact that his parents are always fighting. [ 25 ] A few months ago, the Director decided to split the parents during the visits for many reasons one being the safety of the social workers. [ 26 ] The foster care mother of Y and X testifies that the contacts over the phone are very difficult. The children don’t show much interest. The parents do not call at the good times and the foster mother have to intervene a lot when she believes she should not.

Half of the time the father is not there or coming to the last minute. [ 27 ] The mother will sometimes text the foster mother for pictures or to know if she can buy things for the children. [ 28 ] The children do not ask for more visits but are happy to go. However, they have reactions after the visits. [ 29 ] When the visits are canceled, the children are not surprised, saying that the parents are always late. [ 30 ] One social worker explains that she observes that the children act very differently in presence of their foster care family and in the presence of the parents.

They are more agitated when the parents are there. They don’t seem comfortable. [ 31 ] The mother says she does not sleep during the video calls. She acknowledges that it is harder with X because she does not always want to talk and wants to watch TV. However, when she talks, she will ask to see the dogs and the fish. Apart from that, she does not show much interest. As for Y he will answer questions if you ask him. He is easily distracted with what is around. [ 32 ] According to the mother, B will participate, depending on whether he is in his emotions or not. And A , talks a lot. It is going well with her.

[ 33 ] There have been a few changes of social workers since the last court order. Some of them left for their own safety, considering the aggressivity of the father. [ 34 ] He is described as a very short-tempered person and can have aggressive reaction during meetings with the Director. Criminal complaints had to be made by the social workers. [ 35 ] When meetings happen, the Director can’t ever assess the situation deeply.

The parents never know why they are coming to meet the social workers. [ 36 ] The Director suggests that for all the children, except for Z , the visits should be reduced with the parents. [ 37 ] As for the phone contacts, she recommends that they be put on hold. The foster care families are not comfortable to supervise and the social workers have to do it. X never wants to be on the call. The parents seem under the influence sometimes. [ 38 ] The mother testifies that she wants to have more time with her children.

She wants them to know she is doing better and considers that the best way to heal is to do it with her family. She does not understand why it is OK to see Z at the same frequency and not the others. [ 39 ] She recognizes that the foster care families provide a lot for her children. But she still wishes to be their mother. And. Does not believe that she deserves to lose her children until they are 18. [ 40 ] She also believes that the visits can be chaotic but explains it’s a lot of emotions and people. She thinks the visits could be reorganized. She would like to have weekend’s visits from Friday to Sunday.

She adds that supervised visits are hard and she does the best she can do in a small room. [ 41 ] Regarding the father she explains that she knows that deep down inside, he is a good man and he did what he did to her to help and save her. He is calmer and more attentive. She says he is not verbally and physically aggressive. [ 42 ] The mother has a steady job since November 2021. She explains that the social worker does not facilitate the

schedule for the contacts with her children, which make things harder for her. [ 43 ] She stooped her follow up with the CLSC. She feels she was going in circles and did not have anything to say anymore. She also stopped getting help from the [Centre A] but mentions that she can call there if she needs help. [ 44 ] She would like Y and X to get some services. The neurologist could see Y and X could get play therapy. [ 45 ] Eventually, she would like to do family therapy and blames herself in what happened. [ 46 ] Her long-term goal is to get her kids back.

She believes it’s a work in progress and she wants to make sure it’s perfect before it happens. During her testimony she explains that she agrees with the placement until their majority if she can stay in their life. [ 47 ] She wants her children to have a bound together. She also wants to be more involved and considers that she does not get all the information that she should have from the Director. [ 48 ] The father testifies to the fact that nothing happened since a year and that there is no violence.

He recognizes that his children have traumas and PTSD and take responsibility for it. [ 49 ] He does not agree with the Director concerning his presence during the video calls. He mentions that he is always present. He thinks that the contacts are too close together since the physical contacts are on Mondays and video calls on Tuesday. He explains that he can help and reassure his children. [ 50 ] As for personal help, he does not believe he needs any, he learns from his mistakes. He adds that he will never touch the mother again. He did it before because he was lost and hurt.

DECISION [ 51 ] Is it in the best interest of the child to be entrusted to his foster care family until his majority? [ 52 ] It is in the best interest of A , B , Y and X to be entrusted in their respective foster care family until their majority.

The maximum delay for their placement is expired and we must ensure them the continuity of care, stable relationships and stable living conditions corresponding to their needs and age on a permanent basis. [ 53 ] They have found security and stability in their respective foster care families. [ 54 ] The mother is not in a position to take back her children but she can still play a part-time role in their life while making sure she does not interfere with their permanent placement.

She must accept that she cannot be their first caregiver. [ 55 ] Should the contacts with the parents be reduced in his best interest? [ 56 ] The contacts must be in the best interest of the children. The decision must also be made in accordance with their own personal situation and needs and with the life plan that is ordered for them. [ 57 ] The evidence shows that all children experience severe traumas from their past life with their parents. The older ones have vivid

memories of the violence that was present in their home and show signs of fear. [ 58 ] However, they have seen their parents on a regular basis over the last years and have a bond with them. [ 59 ] The contacts need to remain under the supervision of the Director and take place in a neutral and secured environment. [ 60 ] For A and B a minimum of two contacts per month should permit them to maintain their bond with the parents while ensuring that negative reactions before and after the visits be less present.

The two children live in the same foster care family and even though B is younger, they should have the same frequency of contacts with the parents. [ 61 ] Y and X , who live together in another foster care family, should have contacts with the parents minimally once a month. They are younger and experience important reactions such as regression. We must ensure that they remain secure and stable in their foster family.

The video contacts or phone call should also be organized once a month, a week that there are no physical contacts. [ 62 ] Since the Court orders are rendered until the children’s majority, it is difficult to predict the evolution of the situation, especially for the younger ones who have been living with their parents for a shorter period considering their age.

The Director will have to monitor closely the situation to make sure the contacts remain in the children’s best interests. [ 63 ] Each child has different needs and the Director must ensure an intensive social follow up to make sure that they get proper services. [ 64 ] After having received the admissions, taken into consideration the reports produced and the testimonies heard, the Court concludes that the security and development of the child are still in danger and that the situation gives rise to the measures sought.

FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT: [ 65 ] GRANTS partially the application; [ 66 ] DECLARES that the security and the development of the child are still in danger; [ 67 ] REVISES AND EXTENDS the Court order rendered on July 14, 2020; [ 68 ] ORDERS that the child be entrust to the foster care family of Mrs. E; [ 69 ] ORDERS that the contacts between the child and her parents be following agreement between the parties and that in absence of an agreement in the presence of a third party and at a frequency of one physical contact and one phone contact per month, [ 70 ] ORDERS that the parents take an active

part in the application of the measures ordered; [ 71 ] ORDERS that a person working for an institution or body provides aid, counseling or assistance to the child and her family; [ 72 ] ENTRUSTS the situation of the child to the Director of Youth Protection A for the execution of the measures ordered; [ 73 ] THE WHOLE until her majority on [...], 2035. ________________________________ Mélanie Roy, J.C.Q. Mtre Caterine Caron Attorney for the DYP Mtre Geneviève Robillard Attorney for the child Mtre Gisèle Tremblay Attorney for the mother Mtre Alissa Provost Attorney for the father Dates of the hearing : October 20, 2021 and January 31, 2022 Judgment signed on : March 18, 2022