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DO IT NOW! Lawnmower Service ( t 'p r n ^ FOURTH LINE AUTO from wW+parts $ £ Q CURRENT POWER MACHINERY INC. 1661 Lakeshore Rd. W. M ississauga (2 M o ck east ot S outhdow n QOO A 0 4 4 Road in C larkso n) F O f llS J r CAS provides safe haven C M O o fY E A R For Ail Your Car* Needs Drive Ctaan Emission Testing Government Safety Inspection Tun»-4Jps · Brakes · Exhaust · Cooing Systems CA A Approved Shop Official Media Sponsor 559 Speets Road (90S) 8 4 2 3 0 0 1 Editor Wilma Blokhuis Phone: 905-845-3824 (ext. 250) Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: blokhuis@haltonsearch.com Love and protection for children By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER There is a newborn baby in hospital who has not yet received a hug from his mom and dad. They haven't basked in the fragrance of his fresh skin nor lovingly gazed into his eyes. It's possible the baby's parents may never seize the opportunity. They are addicted to drugs. The baby's mom is in jail. Hospital staff, volunteer cuddlers, and foster parents are standing in line amply filling the parental void. So is a social worker with the Halton Children's Aid Society. Since the baby's birth the CAS's Susan Matthews has been on the case. It's her job, a devotion she has invest ed her heart and soul into for the past 12 years. The same effort is put forth by her 83 colleagues who protect and serve Halton's children aged 16 and younger. This baby's story is one of many heard while touring the CAS on an average Tuesday morning at its South Service Road offices in Burlington. Permitted to eavesdrop on telephone screener Lisa Wark's calls, there are reports of a child whose mother may be an alcoholic and was seen driving her to school intoxicated. Another homeless woman is reported. She has a 15-month old baby. The stress has prompted sus picion of her caregiving abilities. When Wark checks the computer for a history of this woman, she finds internal documentation on a previous sui cide attempt. A woman in a townhouse complex speaks to Wark concerned about the parental supervision of three children who are her neighbours. It seems the children aren't fed regularly, subjected to repeated verbal abuse and, the caller believes, unsecured weapons are in the home. Wark is the public's first point of contact. When concerned callers report their worries about a child, Wark is one of two people answering. Wark asks questions and writes the information on a standard form. These three calls are logged within 30 minutes. | It's ironic the workers chained with the respon sibility of protecting children, must do their work within a locked, highly secure building. The intru sive nature of the work done by the CAS has prompted the guarded measures. "Occasionally we've faced threats," said Geraldo. the intake supervisor. Mention of the CAS prompts adversarial reactions from some people. " We're aware we have a lot of authority and the public is aware of it too. I would think society expects us to lead with that," said Geraldo. Workers are governed by the Child and Family Services Act, and the Ontario social worker's `bible' -- the Eligibility Spectrum Book. All inves tigations have to be justified and accompanied by the specific codes and action mandated by the book. "Achieving mutual goals among parents and the agency is always the purpose of our involvement," added Geraldo. Voluntary agreements are more common than court-ordered arrangements. A separate team of social workers diligently makes every effort to avoid court scenes. They handle long-term cases, those that aren't resolved within the two-month timeline given to the intake workers. The intake worker Rebecca Walker has such a case. Today, during a `transfer meeting', she will pass on a file involving a seven-year-old boy whose parents are not providing him with ade quate medical and dental treatment. Walker verbally details the case to the ongoing team and provides written reports of all her corre spondence with the family. A mutual service con tract will be drawn up when a social worker meets face-to-face with the parents. It will spell out what they will have to do for their child within a certain timeline, to fulfill their role and the mandate of the provincial legislation. Positive outcomes, for the sake of children and in support of the difficult and demanding responsi bilities parents face, is in the best interest of any community. With professional help at hand, including the Halton CAS. a village is better equipped to raise healthy, happy children. This Geraldo morning is For story about Halton CAS 1S tlaeged by pretty typical, says , , . a worker on her budget squeeze, see page C2 team Rebecca Walker Wark. On any given day she hears about abuse, custody need five minutes of your time, now." and neglect. Walker's just received a call from a dad who's Callers are emotional, contentious, reluctant. To concerned about a sexual solicitation uttered by his each she maintains her calm and speaks matter-offive-year-old son to his older sibling while they factly. were in a public washroom. "There are good days and bad days." says The two women decide the best plan of action Wark. Of the 10 years she's worked for the CAS would be an interview with the boy while at she's been doing this job for two-and-a-half. school. Wark's reports are passed on almost immediate "It's a delicate conversation asking a young ly to one of four supervisors in the investigation child about suspected sexual abuse," said Walker. department. "Building a comfortable rapport is important." Consultation is constant. Workers detail and Walker and her colleagues in the intake depart discuss their cases with supervisors and their ment are the second phase of the process. teams to get feedback, perspective and verification Depending on the severity, actions are taken on how to proceed. between 24 hours and seven days. Cases remain While on route to her office supervisor Lourdes on Walker's roster for 30-60 days. >u jm m M m v S k m y p t a m m & w ^ The Body Shaping Fitness Studio For Women. * Comeseeour New Spring collection of apparel and drapery fabrics, drqp^Jw [dglS !£^ home furnishings and more! -- A M Dirk Gebhardt Maria K.inlough M aria and D irk have created Oakville' s m ost unique fitness studio for Women. Jon are cordially invited to tour the Studio It is a lovely place to exercise your fitness dreams. 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