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The Press
March 5, 2002
Allegations concern foster carers
by Kelly Andrew
Foster carers fear their reputations have been tarnished by allegations made
against a North Island couple.
The family of a Kaitaia girl, who was placed in Child, Youth, and Family
(CYF) care two years ago when she was 13, say when she recently returned to
live with them she had contracted two sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
They also say the girl was placed in the care of a couple who were dealing
drugs and later convicted of drug offences.
The department is investigating the allegations. Spokesman Stephen Ward said
it was not clear if the girl had contracted the STDs while she was in care,
or before.
New Zealand Family and Fostercare Federation chairman Malcolm Yorston said
the allegations, although hopefully isolated, would cause concern to all
caregivers.
Foster carers were vulnerable to false complaints made by parents of children
in CYF's care.
"Quite a few people make vexatious complaints because they see it as
`the system' that's got their children," he said.
In a recent example an Auckland
foster carer was arrested by police after parents accused her of abuse, he
said. The charges were later dismissed in court.
Mr Yorston said foster carers went through rigorous vetting. A registration
and accreditation scheme to improve the professionalism of carers was also
launched recently.
ACT MP Muriel Newman has written to Social Services Minister Steve Maharey
calling for an immediate inquiry into the recent Kaitaia case.
Dr Newman said the allegations were damaging to the reputation of foster
carers, and shook public confidence in the department.
The case emphasised the importance of careful checking and vetting of foster
care families to make sure children were safe.
"Most of them are suitable. But all it takes is one family who are not
suitable to raise a troubled child to make the situation a whole lot
worse."
In December a Mid-Canterbury foster mother was found to have hidden her de
facto partner's criminal convictions for indecencies with young boys. She
gave the department a false name for her partner's police check because she
did not want to lose foster children already in her care.
Promises of tighter security checks on care givers and their partners were
made by CYF following the incident.
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