Concerns of contract foster homes

VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s children’s representative says the province is failing to adequately screen or oversee contractors who operate group homes, exposing vulnerable young people to unacceptable risk and harm.

Bernard Richard has released a letter he sent to Minister of Children and Family Development Katrine Conroy in which he describes his “grave concerns” about contracted residential homes for children and youth in care.

He wrote in the letter that he was shocked to learn that 18 children and youth recently had to be relocated from a Lower Mainland residential agency because a youth claimed a staff member was gang-affiliated, took youth on drug drops, smoked marijuana with them and offered them cocaine. Richard would not name the residential agency due to concerns about identifying youth in care.