Dear Child Youth and Family,

1. Where paternity is in question and a child is under the care of CYF what policy do CYF follow to insure paternity is established (in cases where child is to be placed on the 'paternal side for permanency/HFL and where maternal side and/or paternal have questioned paternity validity?
2. In non genetic placements what policy do CYF social workers follow to insure all possible suitable genetic family placements have been sort to insure the rights of the child to be placed with family are followed?
3. What is the policy when placing a child with caregivers (with newborns/babies/toddlers) surrounding the time to inform the caregiver that the child is available for HFL example before placement commences? Or during placement once it is decided in court? Or at time social worker decides child is available for HFL before court decision not to allow parent to regain day to day care?
4. What are the ministries guidelines to insure social workers follow procedures to insure the rights of the child to grow with genetic family as preference are followed?
5. In cases where social workers have failed to insure genetic placement (where genetic family was available) and child has gone into Home for Life guardianship with an out of family placement. What supports or policies are in place to right the wrong and aid in the child being placed with rightful family?
6. What policy (disciplinary action) is in place in regards to social workers who have failed in good social work practice by not insuring genetic placement (when paternity was clearly in question) and failed to insure paternity and/or other testing was carried out in a timely manner particularly with newborns or babies under the age of two yrs? Would such failure be considered by the department to be of a serious failure in good social work practice? If not, why not?
7. What training did social workers receive to gain good knowledge of Home For Life/permanency guidelines and that of guardianship?

Yours faithfully,

Leah Trass
PR PANIC

Dear Child Youth and Family,

I would like to remind you that this request is past the 20 working days time frame.

Yours faithfully,

Leah Trass