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Children in group homes : a survey of wards of the Children's Aid Society living in these units, Vancouver 1954. Coppock, Audrey Mary

Abstract

This study is part of a survey of all wards of the Children's Aid Society of Vancouver, B.C. who were not in foster homes in 1954. Those in Agency group homes or subsidized boarding homes comprised a group of thirty-nine children, eighteen girls and twenty-one boys, ranging in age from one month to fifteen years. The purpose of the study was to determine some of the reasons for this type of care for children, since the Children's Protection Act requires children be placed in foster homes and puts limitations upon any other type of care. The case records of these children were examined to determine whether or not this type of care was meeting their needs. Further, it examined the existing resources in Vancouver for child care to see if they were adequate to meet the needs of all children in care. From the records for each child certain material has been summarized (appendix) and developed for descriptive use in the text. A detailed summary of case records of four of the children is also used to point out areas that need special attention in any child welfare programme. Many factors in the lives of these children appear to have contributed to a special placement other than foster homes. Each child has come from a home that does not constitute a stable family unit. Many had several foster home placements. The majority came into care before the age of seven years. Group homes are meeting the needs of some, but not all such children. In particular, the needs of disturbed children are not being met as adequately in group homes. The needs of babies do not seem to be best served in subsidized boarding homes which in effect are institutions. In general, there is evidence that community services are not adequate to meet the needs of all children in care in Vancouver. The recommendations include the provision of additional services to meet the needs of children as well as further co-ordination and co-operation between existing resources so that together they may offer better service to children. Additional trained staff are needed. And, finally, the study reinforces the need for further research into child dependency.

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