Coalition to End Child Restraints

Since the hunger strike was over I apologize that I have not had the time and wherewithal to update my site with the victory of the strike.

I want to start by thanking all of you wonderful people who so lovingly and generously gave of your time to support this campaign to protect children in care from the practice of restraint as punishment.

The victory lies first and foremost in the COMPLETE STOP of restraints in the group homes, and in a section 19 school involved in my complaint about restraint.

The Coroner in the William Edgar inquest found that children in group homes were at risk of serious injury and death because of the improper use of restraint.

They recommended a course be developed to teach group homes non-violent intervention as an alternative to the restraint.

This BMI course was suppose to be the one the Ministry approved as the new course to teach alternatives to restraints in group homes.

I took this course developed by the Roberts Smart Centre in January 2002, just after the Ministry approved it, as the only course they accept and I was appalled by its lack of substance and focus.

I was also as outraged that they taught restraints in less than three hours including a restraint to be used on a child under 64 pounds.

My concern was that a child under 64 pounds could not present eminent danger to himself or others that could not be dealt with by means less dangerous than a restraint.

The Ministry gave me a letter, hand delivered at the hunger strike on July 26 2002 stating that they were scrapping the Robert Smart BMI course and seeking another recommended by a committee they once convened to research the best course available.

I was advised by a worker for the Group Home Licensing Department Mary Jelinick a few weeks ago that they have now picked the new course but they have not yet announced what course they have chosen.

The Inquest for Stephanie Jobin starts Monday November 18, 2002. Stephanie was the 13-year-old girl killed in one of a 1000 restraints performed on her in 6 months at her group home.

There will be publicity again on this gross travesty of justice for these vulnerable children around this inquest.

I am hoping with all my heart that an end to this barbaric practice of holding children to the floor face down while pinning their hands and feet to the floor will stop and that this practice will be replaced by fair reasonable treatment of these high needs children in care.

I am not sorry I took such a dramatic stance on this issue because these beautiful children are worth it all and more. And I have been blessed a thousand times over by my higher power for my intervention on their behalf.

I have met some of the most loving, generous people imaginable during this action many of whom have become my close friends for life.

I lost 46 pounds during the hunger strike and since then have lost another 40 pounds. My health has never been better and my heart has never been stronger.