Jane Wins Court Case!
Here is a letter from Jane
Hi All,
The
universe smiled on me today. I am free and I am still in steadfast possession of photo copies of restraint reports and log
books supporting allegations of improper use of restraint by staff at Dalhousie Group of Homes. I will now be able to use
these documents to complete my complaint with the Children's Aid Society, Ontario Provincial Police and the Ministry of Community
and Social Services now renamed the Ministry of Family and Children Services.
Justice K. Pedlar in Perth Courthouse
this morning
refused to issue a contempt order and related Incarceration.
He said he could incarcerate me,
and he should incarcerate me, but this is not going to happen because he assumes I have good intentions.
He said he
does not ascribe to the notion however that I am the only one who knows how to protect the safety interests of these children.
I responded that I have not argued that I am the only one who knows how to protect these children I have stated that I am
the only one who chooses to protect their interest.
My former director Troy McNaughton, executive Directors Lori Beckstead
and Colin Cleroux sat with a stoic posture at the courtroom today seemingly in anticipation of my imprisonment. None
of these people needed to be in court and normally only one director would show up.
I am not sorry they were disappointed
and this is a great victory for all of us wanting to see an end to child restraints in-group homes.
I want to sincerely
thank everyone who helped support me through this ordeal.
In particular I want to thank Sue Clark, John Dunn, Catherine
Cote, Mary Ann Kazmeirski, Chris Rayfield and Jo-an Samuels for their extensive support.
We have not won the war yet
but we have most certainly won this battle for justice for these children.
PROTEST, RESIST AND SUPPASS JANE SCHARF
JOHN DUNN SENT THIS EMAIL TO PERTH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
"Jane Scharf is scheduled to go to court today at
10:00am for not returning documents that prove child abuse in a group home known as Dalhousie Group Of Homes.
She
has a metal plate in her leg, and she will end up in shackles that are extremely painful.
I can only request that
she be given as much respect while she is in jail as she is only trying to protect Ontario foster kids.
Read all about
it here at the site below. It has been made a public Issue I would also like to know what each person on this email has to
say about this woman going to Jail to defend children!
This is a request for a public reply as I have this email up
on my website which has been getting quite a lot of media attention.
Thanks
See site below
PRINT THIS
PAGE NOW!
Imagine getting fired for reporting improper use of restraints on minors in the group home you work
in, knowing you most likely would be fired, then, being sent to jail for holding photo copies of restraint reports and
log books which prove her allegations against a court order.
I want you, for one minute, to seriously put yourself
in her shoes. She is an everyday mom, not a criminal. Imagine each and every minute, locked inside a cell for 45 days.
She
has a lovely 11 year old daughter, who is fully supporting her mother by acting as her voice to the media, and the public
during the 45 days she will be stripped of her right to freedom.
Below is part of a conversation I had with Jane on MSN
where she tells me what her daughter said about this.
"if my mother goes to jail it will give the kids in the group
home a chance for a better life"
How You Can Help
She would love to know there are people out there that know
what she is doing, and who support her in her fight to protect the children in group homes from staff who use restraints
as punishment.
You can do this, by sending your letters of support, prayers, and similar experiences to her
at afterfostercare@yahoo.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
After
writing your letter of support to Jane Scarf, you can make some phone calls to express your opinion on this issue.
Below is
a list of related names, and numbers, that you can contact in order to express your feelings on this happening to
not only Jane Scharf, but many other front line workers who have been fired in the same manner.
* The Lawyer
(Shane Kelford) Who Defended The Group Home In All Of This Putting Jane In Jail 1-613-283-6772
* Local To Jane,
Area Newspaper Perth Courier courier@perth.igs.net
* The Group Home Itself At 1-613-989-1212 just ask for Troy McNaughton
* Lori Beckstead - Exec. Director Of Dalhousie Group Of Homes at 1-613-264-8359
* Wenda Hodsdon - Ministry
Of Community, Family, And Childrens' Services 1-613-787-3971
Janes' Journal
While Jane is locked
in jail for trying to protect children, she will talk to her daughter on the phone each day, to give us a summary of her day,
and to let us know how things are in the jail.
You should keep up to date on this page by going up to the top of the
page, and clicking on the small box at the right called "keep me updated"
JANES LAST WORDS BEFORE JAIL
Hi
All:
This is going to be my last opportunity to speak to you for a while. I will be placed in prison tomorrow for
refusing to comply with a court order. Kayla my daughter will be my voice while I am incarcerated.
She will be making
contact with me daily by phone and posting up dates about how I am getting along inside.
John Dunn will post these
diary entries and letters of support at the following web address:
http://www.afterfostercare.cjb.net
Thanks
a million to John Dunn for this god sent support.
<P>
My belief is that if I comply with the court
order to give
back photo copies of evidence that support my allegations of excessive use of force on minors in the group
home were I worked these child will not have a fighting chance for a stable future. Even if I do not get authorities to care
about their plight I believe that these children will benefit greatly from the knowledge that I thought they were worth going
to jail to protect.
I take this stand as a last resort. I have notified all relevant authorities about very young
children not capable of hurting others being extensively restrained and that children reported to me that they had been deliberately
hurt during restraints.
All the authorities OPP, Ministry of Community and Social Services and the courts sit in conspiratorial
fashion with their backs turned on all these precious children in care who are being brutalized.
It causing me such
pain that the entire "CARE" industry can condone these acts of senseless violence against these children. Restraints have
become a brutal systemic standard.
Even continual deaths of children by restraints does not seem to slow this practice
down in the slightest.
There were hundreds of restraints done at Dalhousie South Mountain when I worked there between
October 2001 and February 2002 all of which I claim were unnecessary.
I spoke with the president of the Alliance of
Associations Serving Children and Youth David Schwltz today and he told me he doubts if anyone in the industry will support
me on the discontinuation of restraints even on the very young child who are not capable of hurting others.
I want
to see the practice of restraint stopped in-group homes completely. If this cannot happen then I want to see group homes closed
down the way orphanages were closed down for primarily the same reason.
Please let me know if you support me as this
will help to keep my spirits up through this ordeal. Send letters of support to afterfostercare@yahoo.com and please tell
authorities if you want to see restraints stopped.
